Hanro Group makes key appointment and commits to collaboration with tenants

A North East property, investment and development firm is continuing to support its tenants across the region with a sustainable approach to business growth.

Hanro Group has launched a strategic plan to maintain business occupancy in key locations and appointed an experienced finance professional as group director.

Duncan Barrie first joined Hanro in 2017 following a career in finance and business roles across the North East.

This includes 13 years at software company Nonlinear Dynamics, six of which were as managing director. Duncan has also previously been chief financial officer at the Port of Tyne.

He will help Newcastle-based Hanro Group develop its combined offering of surveying and accountancy perspectives.

Commenting on his appointment, Duncan said: “A strong landlord-tenant relationship is key to business sustainability and growth.

“I’ve spent many years as a tenant, so it’s very interesting to be on the other side of the landlord tenant relationship.

“With such difficult and uncertain trading conditions in 2020, it has been particularly important to bring that empathy to the table this year.

“The worlds of surveying and finance are converging in many areas from turnover based rents to valuation of leases.

“It’s increasingly important that Hanro continues to foster close working relationships with tenants in ‘the new normal’ rather than the traditional ‘arm’s length’ landlord relationship.

“A combination of this close relationship and combining surveying and accountancy thinking we feel, best serves the business community of the North East.”

Adam Serfontein, managing director at The Hanro Group, added: “It is vital in the current challenging economic environment to provide a combination of surveying and accountancy perspectives.

“This enables the sustainability of local businesses, job opportunities and our wider region’s economy.

“Duncan’s appointment as a director recognises the importance of providing a fully comprehensive service which combines the traditional world of surveying and finance.

“Collaboration is at the core of our region’s development and we are passionate about listening to what our business community needs to succeed and developing a service to support that.”