William Beardmore-Gray

Spear’s Review

Replacing a lifer can be daunting. Though when William Beardmore-Gray was announced as Knight Frank’s new group chair in 2022 – replacing 38-year veteran Alistair Elliott – he had far fewer reasons to be nervous. It wasn’t just that the qualified surveyor had also racked up his own decades of experience at the real estate firm (having joined in 1991). He had also led some of its most successful initiatives in his own right, including a global consultancy offering (aimed at occupiers) from Knight Frank’s London headquarters. 

Despite market uncertainty and poor economic forecasts, initial reports from Knight Frank seem to emphasise luxury letting as an increased area of focus, and the firm estimates rental values to rise 4 per cent in 2026 in prime central and outer London.

Under Beardmore-Gray’s leadership, the firm remains focused on the future and highly influential – not just as a top-tier player in residential and commercial real estate, but also for its annual Wealth Report, which is a crucial tool for tracking the changing shape of global wealth and the luxury industry. 

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