Hollis appoints Newcastle office head
Hollis has appointed Steve Knight as head of its Newcastle office, bringing in a veteran surveyor from Cluttons to lead the firm’s operations in the region.
New leadership for the Newcastle team
Knight joins after a long stint at Cluttons, where he spent more than a decade. His role at Hollis will involve overseeing the office’s day-to-day work and expanding its client base across the North East.
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The appointment comes as Hollis continues to invest in its regional presence. The firm, which provides property consultancy services, has been building out its teams outside London over the last few years. Newcastle is one of several UK offices for Hollis, which also has locations in Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Knight’s move marks a notable shift in the local property consultancy market. He brings experience in commercial and residential surveying, which could help Hollis compete for larger mandates in the region. Hollis did not disclose the size of its Newcastle team or whether further hires are planned. The firm has been relatively quiet on expansion details, though industry watchers note that regional offices are becoming more important as clients demand local expertise.
One outside observer, who asked not to be named, said the hire signals Hollis is serious about growing its footprint in the North East. “They’re not just putting a name on the door — they’re bringing in someone who knows the market,” the person said. The North East property market has seen steady activity, particularly in the office and logistics sectors. Newcastle itself has attracted investment in recent years, with developers converting older buildings into mixed-use spaces.
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Knight’s background includes work on large-scale commercial projects and portfolio management. At Cluttons, he advised landlords and tenants on property strategy, valuations, and condition surveys. His experience aligns with Hollis’s focus on technical property advice rather than transactional brokerage. The firm positions itself as a specialist in building performance, risk management, and sustainability.
“Steve’s track record in the North East speaks for itself,” a Hollis spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re confident he will strengthen our ability to serve clients across the region.” The spokesperson declined to comment on whether Knight would bring any clients with him.
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The appointment was announced internally and to select industry contacts before becoming public. Hollis has been around since the 1990s and operates across the UK and Europe. Its employee-owned structure means decisions about office expansion often come from within rather than from outside investors. That structure can make hires like Knight’s more significant, since they reflect internal consensus about where the business needs to grow.
Knight is expected to start in the role within the next few weeks.
