The Leader - March/April 2008 - (Page 66)

executive p r o f il e Como’s Robin Harris: The Internal Real Estate Function Is Evolving By ricHard kadzis obin Harris has spent the last 25 years working in property construction, predominantly in London. He has numerous contacts throughout the European real estate industry and is currently Sales and Marketing Director of Como, a Londonbased construction company. Como was formed in January 2003 by parent company, Mace, to extend its consultancy and management offering into construction delivery. Since then, Como has expanded across a range of markets, including interior fit-out, refurbishment, laboratories, highquality residential, and social housing and Como has been shortlisted for the Contractor of the Year in the Building Awards 2008. Harris has extensive experience in sales and marketing, working originally for a design and build contractor R and the progression in his career to a large interior fit out contractor. He leads Como’s customer relationships management team, ensuring feedback on the company’s performance and delivery of projects. iNdustry treNds Outsourcing corporate real estate services has become a huge part of the industry globally in the last decade. Harris sees that trend continuing in the UK. “Most companies originally outsourced to improve cost reduction,” he says. “Now that the benefits of outsourcing have been seen, the cost savings are being used to invest in companies’ strategic requirements.” Harris thinks that the growth of outsourcing will continue in the UK, which means there will be changes within internal corporate real estate (CRE) groups. For example, there will be fewer internal CRE functions, but those left behind will have increased responsibility. “There will be a growth in integrated providers of CRE services,” he says. “This will bring about new players in the outsourcing market and further fuel its growth. We have seen how a major telecoms company have utilised a service supplier as its in-house global head of property by creating a true partnership delivering significant results whilst sharing risks and rewards.” Some of the critical competencies needed in an organisation’s internal CRE function, Harris says, are the ability to control costs, understanding corporate strategic objectives, flexibility, and the ability to integrate the CRE function into the main business using a unified approach with clear lines of authority and streamlined operational policies. Harris has recently experienced how a major Bank has introduced a 2 0 0 8 tHe le ade r 66 MarcH / april

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leader - March/April 2008

The Leader - March/April 2008 Leadership Contents Message from the CEO Real Estate in the News Taking CRM Programs to the Next Level A Commitment to Sustainability GSA’s National 3D-4D-BIM Program Sustainability at ABN-AMRO Getting to the Real Issues in Today’s Competitive Marketplace ManPower Consolidates Real Estate & Project Management with One Provider HP's Renee Leach and Team Como's Robin Harris San Antonio's Mario Hernandez Chicago Workplace, Mid-Atlantic, and Boston The Gold Standard: California Is the State for Innovation Pat Crumley: Education Is a Path to Success Postcards from the Edge Tribune's Stephanie Pater Economic Development in the News A Look Ahead EDP Continues Expansion in Asia-Pacific

The Leader - March/April 2008

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