National property advisory firm GVA has appointed Jo Davis to head its South West office. Jo, who also leads the firm’s planning team covering the South West and South Wales, becomes one of nine regional senior directors at GVA – the title given to those heading UK offices.
In an industry where senior positions still tend to be held by men, she is the first woman to take on such a role within GVA. 
Jo, pictured, who is a senior member of GVA’s national planning development and regeneration, has 20 years’ experience in the industry and has been involved in planning many of the South West’s most prominent regeneration projects, residential housing developments, and complex brownfield site developments.
She has worked with blue-chip companies and organisations such as HCA, St Modwen, North Bristol NHS Trust, Cubex, Linden Homes, Barratt Homes, Bloor Homes and Persimmon Homes.
Jo, a member of Bristol Property Agents’ Association planning forum and the Business South West planning & transport committee, replaces David Mace, who is stepping down after eight years in the role but will continue his development consultancy work including his long-standing involvement with The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
GVA’s Bristol office, which employs 82 people, covers a full range of commercial property disciplines across the South West, including agency, planning, valuation consultancy, lease consultancy, business rates, building, health and property management.
The firm, a major player in the South West property market, sees significant growth in the regions. Chief executive Rob Bould said: “Jo’s appointment is aimed at supporting a key location for us in Bristol and our future business development, a vitally important part of driving growth for all our regions.”
David added: “Jo’s promotion is richly deserved. She originally helped establish the planning team here in Bristol and has developed it into one of the region’s most highly-regarded planning advisors, having been involved in some of the region’s strategically important regeneration sites.”
