Oxfordshire planning and heritage consultancy Edgars has announced a management buyout led by Jon Westerman as the independent business approaches its 20th anniversary.
Jon, who has been with Edgars for ten years, has become managing director from 1 September, succeeding joint founder Jayne Norris.
Edgars was originally established in 2001. Jayne Norris created the planning consultancy part of Edgars in 2007, with an ambition to create a different kind of planning consultancy, combining expert advice with a highly personal and client-focused approach.
Since then, her mission has been to ensure that every client has a positive planning and development experience that enhances their property asset and promotes sustainability, an approach that has shaped Edgars’ culture and the long-standing relationships it has built with clients over almost two decades.
Jon joined Edgars as a director in 2016, having worked for Carter Jonas, Cherwell District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council, to work alongside Jayne in driving forward the business.
Over the past decade, the pair have worked closely together to grow Edgars, its team and client relationships, with Jon playing a central role in leading high-profile planning projects, including major commercial, hospitality and heritage-led regeneration developments, while helping to strengthen Edgars’ reputation, expand its client base and drive the growth of the business across the region. His move into leadership of the business therefore represents a natural progression and provides continuity for Edgars’ clients and team.
The MBO has marked a natural evolution for the consultancy, with its existing team, client relationships and planning and heritage expertise remaining unchanged, while providing a platform for its next phase of growth.
Edgars’ existing client teams and projects will continue unaffected following the transition.
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Jayne Norris said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have built at Edgars and, in particular, the team and client relationships that sit at the heart of the business.
“Finding the right way to take forward Edgars was hugely important to me. Jon has been part of Edgars for ten years; he understands our people, clients and culture and has played an important role in the business we have become.
“This feels like a very natural next chapter and I am enormously excited to see where Jon and the team take Edgars from here.”
Jon Westerman said: “It is a huge privilege to be taking Edgars forward.
“The strength of this business is our people, our expertise and the relationships we have built with clients over many years and living by our values of collaboration, communication and commitment to excellence. Those foundations don’t change.
“What we do have is renewed ambition for the future. We want to strengthen our position in planning and heritage, build on our Oxfordshire roots and expertise, deepen our existing client relationships and work with more of the ambitious projects and organisations we know Edgars can add real value to.
“As we approach our 20th anniversary, it feels like a particularly exciting moment to look at everything Edgars has achieved – and what we can achieve together next.”
Image: Pictured – Jon Westerman, new managing director, and founder Jayne Norris
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