Pictured above: John Batsford with Bigwood managing director Rory Daly and director Ian Tudor

Business property consultancy Bigwood has snapped up one of Birmingham's best known office agents to boost its Colmore Row team.

John Batsford, formerly of leading agents such as Colliers CRE, CBRE, Hillier Parker, Chesterton and Elliott Son & Boynton, has been at the heart of Birmingham office agency over a 30-year career.

Bigwood director Ian Tudor said the firm was delighted to welcome John Batsford into its city centre team as a consultant. John will bring additional strength to the existing team and to its instructions and client base across the region.

"John is a leading name in office agency in the city and was a founder member of the Office Agents Society. For many years he sat on the local RICS committee and has always been involved in the West Midlands property scene at a grass roots level," he said.

John Batsford said: "I, along with many of my fellow professionals in the city, recognised that Bigwood has significantly raised its game in the last couple of years.

"It has established itself as the biggest auction house outside of London and its move into the city centre with the opening of a Colmore Row office brought a long established business back to its spiritual heart.

"And with its offices in Edgbaston, Stratford-upon-Avon and Henley-in-Arden and strong pedigree in property management, professional work and building consultancy it has a wide workbase which has enabled it to ride out the recession better than many of its rivals."

During his career John Batsford has been involved in the marketing, acquisitions and disposals of a number of landmark Birmingham buildings include more recently 35 Newhall Street, has acted in the early stages of the flagship Snow Hill development, and for clients including 3i Group, Pinsent Masons and Clement Keys.

Bigwood was further boosted in March this year by the appointment of former Kaupthing, HBOS and Barclays corporate banker Trevor Foster as non-executive chairman.

Bigwood managing director Rory Daly said: "As befits a successful property consultancy, all the bricks are dropping into place and we feel that with the recruitment of heavy hitters like John Batsford and Trevor Foster we are well placed to take advantage of the coming recovery and take Bigwood to new heights."