Cushman & Wakefield has recruited former Asda strategy director Paul Durkin to head up its UK retail team.

Durkin was senior director of strategy at the big-four grocer. His new role will be to lead Cushman & Wakefield’s retail property team and focus on “delivering advisory services to clients operating in a sector evolving at unprecedented pace”.

Durkin was at Asda for just over a year. Prior to that, he worked for multinational brewing and beverage company SABMiller, management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company and spent over fire years with Morrisons.

Paul Durkin

Paul Durkin

His is the latest in a string of new hires to Cushman & Wakefield’s retail property team. Since the start of the year, the property agency have hired former Kingfisher group property manager Tim Crighton, Peter Hutton as head of retail in Scotland and Robin Coady of investment advisory firm Coady Supple.

Cushman & Wakefield UK and Ireland boss George Roberts said: “Paul is uniquely qualified to help us deliver value-adding solutions to investor and occupier clients looking to enhance performance at a time of unprecedented change in the retail sector.

“He will head up our market leading team of capital markets, leasing, occupier representation and development specialists who are proud to advise investors and occupiers on the country’s preeminent retail schemes and assets.”

Durkin said: “The ever-evolving retail sector is challenging established business models and the lines are being increasingly blurred between the ways we work, live, socialise and consume.

“As such, strategies to succeed in this sector need to adapt to these factors, whether you are an established or upcoming retail brand, developer or investor. I very much look forward to leading the retail team at Cushman & Wakefield and building on the enormous depth and breadth of expertise already available.”