Assael announces new promotions
We are delighted to announce a series of internal promotions, including the appointment of a new Director, Alex Johnson.
Gareth Rowe takes on the role of Head of Landscape, to manage the growing Assael Exteriors division and Jitesh Mistry moves into the role of Associate Technologist.
Also taking the step up to Senior Architect are Amy Callaghan, Hazel Crosland, Jo McLean and Michael Posso with Christie Tan moving up to Senior Architectural Designer.
After being a key member of the team since 2011, Alex Johnson has been promoted to Director as a well-deserved recognition of his contribution and leadership. Alex has delivered significant residential and mixed-use projects; driving the practice’s adoption of DfMA as a key component of our design ethos and helping grow our expanding portfolio of MMC projects.
Alex heads up Assael’s research and business development in offsite construction methods with a particular focus on volumetric systems and is a key lead of Habitis, part of the Assael Architecture family of companies that specialises in the delivery of complex post planning projects direct for contractors and housebuilders.
Alex is currently overseeing the delivery of The Mall in Walthamstow, working with Tide Construction and Vision, using their unique off-site modular construction system to deliver the scheme for Long Harbour Ltd. In just 21 working weeks, 1,375 volumetric units have been installed, delivering 495 Build to Rent apartments across two buildings of 34 and 27 storeys.
Gareth joined Assael as a Senior Landscape Architect in 2021, bringing both his technical expertise and design flair to a variety of projects. Quickly progressing to Head of Landscape, he now oversees all Assael Exteriors projects. With over 20 years of industry experience across various sectors, Gareth has focused primarily on residential and mixed-use developments since joining Assael. His most recent projects include Bracknell Beeches, High Street Woking, Greggs Bakery in Richmond, JLP Waitrose in Bromley, Dudden Hill Lane in Brent, Campbell Park in Milton Keynes, and Regent House in Dorking.
Gareth is steadily growing the Assael Exteriors team as they take on the design and delivery of new and exciting projects. Watch this space…
Jitesh’s promotion to Associate Technologist reflects that he has become a key member of the Assael team, working on construction detailing and product development for new modular apartments and houses that are designed to deliver high quality, liveable and sustainable accommodation across the UK. His recent projects include the delivery of Springfield Village in Tooting for London Square which will provide 253 new homes, and the delivery of two co-living schemes; a key town centre site in Woking and the other at Fife Road in Kingston.
The five team members moving up to Senior Architect and Senior Architectural Designer have all demonstrated capability to lead complex projects both at planning and implementation stages across a range of sectors.
Amy has been a key team member working on securing planning permission for several high profile Build to Rent schemes, including 340 new homes in Bromley for John Lewis Partnership and a further 780 homes for JRL Group in Luton and Woking.
Hazel played a pivotal role to gain planning permission on a large mixed-use masterplan in Greenwich which will provide over 1,200 new homes. She was also part of the team that worked on Regent House in Dorking, a residentially-led mixed use scheme for Clarion.
Jo McLean had been leading the delivery of Walthamstow Mall – one of the largest volumetric buildings in Europe – for Tide Construction and Long Harbour. The scheme comprises 495 Build to Rent homes across 34 and 27 storeys, and 1,375 volumetric units.
Jo was also highly commended for the AJ100 New Talent Award 2024 under the ‘New Architect’ category, praised by judges for understanding her subject ‘profoundly’ and being ‘a role model in practice and in thought leadership’. From project work, to leading Assael’s Diversity & Inclusion Group, to research and writing on diversity issues in construction, lack of women on site and ways to combat these issues, Jo has become a force to be reckoned with.
Michael has been at Assael since 2016 and worked on a range of projects over the years. Most recently he has been working on the Former Boddingtons Brewery scheme in Manchester, which is at detailed design stage. He has also led on a number of large planning schemes, including a rural masterplan in Buckinghamshire for the Epilepsy Society and a co-living development in Greenwich.
Christie has become a valuable member of the Assael team since joining in 2019. She has worked on both architecture and interior design projects and specialises in physical and 3D modelling. She is currently working on the interior design at a scheme in Minerva Way in Glasgow for Redevco alongside an exciting project in Chelsea.
Pete Ladhams, Managing Director said “I’m so pleased to announce these new promotions as this is an opportunity to recognise the talent within the practice and I am impressed to see how those being promoted have already stepped up to their new roles. These new promotions reflect our confidence that despite difficult times, the construction industry is accelerating as the economy develops across the UK.”
Full list of promotions:
Director:
Alex Johnson
Head of Landscape:
Gareth Rowe
Associate Technologist:
Jitesh Mistry
Senior Architect:
Amy Callaghan
Hazel Crosland
Jo McLean
Michael Posso
Senior Architectural Designer:
Christie Tan