Martin has nearly 40 years of experience in real estate and the build environment, with leadership and management expertise across both the markets side of the industry, as well as the professional and advisory side.

Martin started his real estate career at CBRE as a graduate and assistant surveyor in investment, before qualifying as a chartered surveyor.  

During his time at CBRE, he held numerous senior roles — including UK managing director, CEO and, most recently, chairman of the firm’s advisory business across APAC and EMEA — before leaving the company at the end of 2020.

In addition to his role at RICS, Martin also holds a number of chair and NED roles at various firms, including Dominvs Group and Alteration Earth.

He will also retain his current part-time CEO role at RE5Q until the firm appoints a long-term replacement.

Commenting on his appointment, Martin said: “RICS is a broadly based institution that must be forward thinking with a clear identity and an authoritative voice; it should be bold and passionate, ambitious and challenging, and must speak out positively to influence the issues that matter. 

“I have been a proud member of RICS for some 35 years, and have always regarded it as an honour and privilege.  

“It is my aim to make sure that our membership feel the same, and to facilitate an engaged and rewarded profession who gain as much from us as we do from them.

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“As a strong advocate for change and evolution, I believe passionately that this role has the potential to make a significant difference and positive impact on both the profession and its standing in both the built environment and the wider business world.  

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to build our influence with stakeholders and to work with the wider industry in attracting a new and dynamic generation of young professionals.”

Harriet Kemp, RICS’ chair of the appointments panel and co-chair of the nomination and remuneration committee, said she was looking forward to working with Martin, adding that his industry experience make him an excellent appointment to the role.

“We were inspired by his passion for an industry he has dedicated his entire career to, and are confident that he will be a key figure in delivering our transformative vision,” Harriet added.

“We are confident that Martin will seize this opportunity to push forward and lead from the front on the issues that matter, such as climate change and sustainability, data and tech, diversity and inclusion and the future skills needed.”

The new RICS board will be a majority-member group overseeing the organisation’s day-to-day operations, delivering and executing on the strategic plan on behalf of the Governing Council.

It will be separate from RICS’s new Standard and Regulation board, which was granted exclusive responsibility for regulating surveyors earlier this month.