EXECUTIVE Sponsored by


REAL ESTATE OF THE YEAR


WINNER:


With due respect to the shortlisted nominees, but bearing mind the venue of the event, this award category was a two-horse race between:


• Anne Columbia of TripAdvisor • Russell Poole of Equinix


For this award the judges were assessing and recognising top personal performances. They looked very closely at the role of the in-house real estate executive, public sector employee or company adviser – to discover which nominee had demonstrated best practice and shown how decisive property strategies can affect main board decisions and ultimately improve productivity.


The two ‘runners’ in this category ‘race’ were both from well-known corporate ‘stables’.


Anne Columbia has set the strategy for TripAdvisor’s Thames Valley businesses to accommodate their growth and operational needs while consolidating into a single location following the acquisition of 45,000 sq ft of offices at Oxford Science Park.


Columbia’s company is Columbia Group Realty, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and her extensive work with the TripAdvisor Media Group has seen her working as TripAdvisor’s global real estate adviser. Her 25 years’ experience spans the spectrum of tenant advisory services, from strategic planning, market research, financial


www.businessmag.co.uk


ANNE COLUMBIA of TripAdvisor


analysis, transactions management, deal structuring and contract negotiations.


Russell Poole is UK managing director of Nasdaq- listed data centre specialist Equinix, the world’s largest IBX (international business exchange) data centre and colocation provider. Poole joined Equinix as UK general manager in April 2000 bringing with him nine years experience in the UK telecoms and Internet industries.


More than 500 companies colocate in Equinix’s UK data centres, connecting to business partners and customers across their digital supply chains. Its UK data centres include Slough, from which 25% of European equities trades now originate. The Equinix UK flagship London Slough campus off Buckingham Avenue, now has three data facilities following the January 2014 announcement to acquire its LD4 and LD5 buildings from SEGRO and develop an additional LD6 centre.


Jelf, broking specialists in insurance and financial planning sponsored this award. Jerry Wilson (pictured right), regional managing director at Jelf, which has offices in Reading, Oxford and Guildford, announced the winner – Anne Columbia (pictured centre) of TripAdvisor


Afterwards, Columbia commented: “There is a very close relationship between the US and


Britain in terms of business practice and how people work; and this is a big and important office (at Oxford Science Park) for TripAdvisor, so it’s a lot of fun to be here tonight to receive this award.”


Providing an insight into the selection of TripAdvisor’s new Thames Valley location, she revealed: “First off we look at the people. Who are the people we want to recruit, what’s the best place for them to be, what’s the business environment like? It’s really about recruiting and retaining people for this particular company, TripAdvisor.


“Oxford has a very interesting population, well- educated, multi-skilled and the infrastructure here is very good.


“Companies that have knowledge-based workers tend to be in places where there are other technology companies, universities, intellectual activity, clustering, and the Oxford site is one of those.”


Columbia also mentioned her global experience of the property industry: “There is a huge difference in the way property agents work around the world. It’s a pleasure to work with British professionals. There is an understanding and transparency. Britain is one of those places where American companies feel comfortable working.”


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2015


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