The Bristol Property Agents Association (BPAA) has appointed Jeremy Richards, head of international chartered surveyors Jones Lang LaSalle’s office in the city, as its new president.
Jeremy, who replaces outgoing president Andrew Main, head of office at Savills in Bristol, officially took up the post at an inauguration ceremony earlier this month at Bristol’s Thistle Grand Hotel attended by more than 500 people. 
The BPAA is the collective voice of the Bristol property market, representing individuals from both the commercial and residential sectors. It provides guidance, opinion and leadership on issues affecting the city’s prosperity and its expertise is used to inform discussions and decisions that affect Bristol.
It holds regular meetings with the local planning authority and is an important consultee in planning policy and development control.
Jeremy is a long-standing member of the Jones Lang LaSalle (formerly King Sturge) team in Bristol and a widely-respected commentator on the region’s commercial property market.
Pictured: Jeremy Richards, left, accepts the BPAA president’s chain of office from outgoing president Andrew Main
He said: “2014 looks set to be an exciting year for Bristol’s property market as we come out of the recession. Jones Lang LaSalle’s own research shows that Bristol is in a strong position to capitalise on the upturn and I’m looking forward to all the opportunities this presents in my new role.”
The BPAA has also announced its chosen charities for 2014 – Bristol-based Penny Brohn Cancer Care, which helps people with cancer to live well, and Transplant Sport, which encourages active and healthy lifestyle for transplant recipients as well as promoting organ donation.
Jeremy added: “We are delighted to be supporting two new charities this year. Andrew achieved fantastic levels of support for last year’s charities and has set the bar very high but I feel confident we can do even better in 2014.”
The Association, which has nearly 300 members, hosts a range of social events throughout the year. 2014 events include a golf day in June, a boules competition in July and a team cycling competition in September called the BPAA Cyclosportive.
The BPAA raised £9,000 during 2013 for its chosen charities Wherever the Need and CLIC Sargent.
