Global property consultancy Knight Frank has added people strategy and international expertise to its top tier of management by appointing Karen Bowes and Shishir Baijal to its Group Executive Board responsible for the UK and global Knight Frank business.

Bowes joins the Board in the newly created role of Group Chief People Officer and will also become a Proprietary Partner at Knight Frank, demonstrating the crucial importance of group and workplace culture to Knight Frank. Bowes brings with her extensive people and culture expertise following a 25-year career in Law and Financial Services, most recently with Barclays Bank PLC and previously through numerous International HR roles with Capital One Financial Services.

Baijal joins the Board to add international experience and wide-ranging corporate acumen after his extensive career across a range of sectors including hotels, leisure and real estate. Baijal is also Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India. 

Bowes and Baijal will broaden the range of expertise and ability on the Board and signal the growing importance of strategic thinking for people and the strong focus on global markets for Knight Frank.

William Beardmore-Gray, Senior Partner and Group Chair, Knight Frank, commented: “We have developed a People Strategy that builds on our partnership approach and ensures that around the world Knight Frank recruits and retains the best talent. Karen Bowes’ experience will help us to build on this key strategy.

“At the same time, following the recent announcement of our new US partnership with Berkadia, we continue to grow our business to suit our clients’ needs around the world. With India now the fastest-growing economy in the world, Shishir Baijal will give us an invaluable insight into business and real estate dynamics across Asia and other emerging markets, as well as his wider non-real estate expertise.”

Karen Bowes, Group Chief People Officer, Knight Frank, added: “Knight Frank is recognised for its strong culture across the business world, and I look forward to building on this to allow our people to continue to give world-class advice.”

Throughout her career, Karen Bowes has been instrumental in creating engaging workplaces where the best talent wants to work.  During her 18 years with Capital One Bank, Bowes has driven transformational change across the UK, Europe, Canada and US; and most recently with the Capital One Commercial Bank in New York. 

Bowes specialises in developing world-class people functions and is known for building diverse, inclusive and purpose-driven cultures where everyone can achieve their career goals. 

Shishir Baijal, Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India, commented: “Our regions are at varied stages of development, and a truly comprehensive view for the company is imperative, given the new era of post-pandemic global business. I view joining the Group Executive Board as an enriching move to create a more global orientation to our overall approach.”

Shishir Baijal has worked in Australia, New Zealand and the Seychelles as well as in India, with deep experience in hotels and cinemas before moving into real estate as founder of Mumbai-based Everstone Capital Advisers. He joined Knight Frank in 2012, building the team in India to 1,500 people in 8 cities, and headquartered in Mumbai.

The Group Executive Board oversees Knight Frank’s global network and over-arching strategy. Its other members include William Beardmore-Gray, Senior Partner and Group Chair, Stephen Clifton, Head of UK Commercial, Tim Hyatt, Head of UK Residential, Matt Tweedie, CFO, Anthony Duggan, Partner, Head of Strategy & ESG. In addition, Non-Executive Advisers: Charlotte Boyle and Alexandra Innes, and Kevin Coppel, Managing Director of Asia.

Source: Knight Frank