The Colliers Retail Leasing team has welcomed Colum McKernan into a brokerage role with a focus on Auckland’s central suburbs.
McKernan joined Colliers in 2019 as a Property Manager in the Real Estate Management Services team and has overseen projects like the redevelopment of the Highbury Shopping Centre in Birkenhead.
“I’ve been working in real estate management for going on seven years now, and part of the role has involved implementing building improvements and strategic leasing to maximise the value of each property, while helping clients through the challenges the market has presented over the past five or six years,” McKernan says.
“The development of the Highbury Shopping Centre was a great opportunity to deploy many of the skills I possess. It was a major project to oversee, not only in adding the extension but reconfiguring it to accommodate new tenants, bringing them in, and working with contractors on new layouts. We’re getting close to the milestone of having it fully developed and leased.”
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He believes his background in economics and experience working in a management role for a national retail chain have given him a unique perspective that, when combined with his time in real estate management, will provide a competitive edge in brokerage.
“Understanding the bigger picture helps, and you can win the confidence of your tenants and clients if you can speak with authority around the broader economic picture. I’ve also had experience working with the Retail Leasing team before on projects like leasing the retail strip at 255 Broadway in Newmarket.
"It was really struggling a few years back, but there’s now a fully leased and attractive-looking leasing strip that runs from Morrow Street down toward the Glassons building, to the point that we’re now turning down tenants.”
After McKernan’s prior experiences working with the Retail Leasing team, he ultimately decided joining them as a Broker was the next logical step.
“As I gained more experience, I became more heavily involved in contributing to the leasing function of the client’s assets, and we had some great outcomes. I developed a good skill set around negotiation and strategic leasing, and with the background and experiences I have to draw from, I think the next obvious step is to focus on that and go into full-time brokerage.”
Richard James, National Director of Retail at Colliers, previously oversaw the Real Estate Management Services team and recalls McKernan’s work on key portfolios for longstanding clients.
“We are delighted to welcome Colum to the Retail Leasing team,” James says.
“Colum has terrific insights into how to meet the dynamic needs of both landlords and tenants, and I’ve witnessed first-hand the meticulous planning that Colum undertakes to get the best results for our clients. He will be an enormous asset to the team with his well-rounded understanding of property and his desire to seek enduring outcomes.
“Between his impressive track record in repositioning assets and the time he takes to forge long-lasting relationships, he is seen as a trusted advisor for our clients, who know he will go above and beyond.”
- Supplied by Colliers
