Montagu Evans appoints Bhav Shah as DE&I head

Montagu Evans has appointed Partner, Bhavini Shah, as its new Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

She begins her new role this month, drawing on a decade of experience in the partnership as a healthcare property specialist in its Advisory team and longstanding DE&I advocate. Previous roles at the firm include Partner sponsor for Open Circle, Montagu Evans’ internal network for ethnically diverse employees, and DE&I committee member for the last four years.

Bhav will develop a DE&I strategy that will engage and integrate deeply with the firm’s objectives, using data and insight gathered through engagement with team members, clients and industry stakeholders. Montagu Evans’ Corporate Responsibility report, combining Sustainability and DE&I for the first time, will be published in the autumn.

Reporting to Vicky Thompson, Director of HR and member of the Montagu Evans’ Executive Committee, Bhav will work alongside Head of Sustainability Oli Pye as well as the firm’s Managing Partner and other groups, including Open Circle, Enable:ME and ME:Pride. Externally, RICS, RTPI, We Rise In, PREACH Inclusion, Real Estate Balance and Freehold remain important partners.

Alan Harris, Head of Advisory and incoming Managing Partner, at Montagu Evans said: “With a clear understanding of our partnership based on 10+ years’ progression and experience, Bhav has advocated a bold and systematic approach to furthering our DE&I strategy. She will provide clear direction, inspire the business and ensure our Partnership makes progress in this important area. Many at Monties know her to be an authentic and passionate  leader and she has everyone’s full support in this new role.”

Bhav Shah, Head of DE&I at Montagu Evans, said: “A number of years of leaning into the DE&I space in conjunction with my role as a surveyor, made me realise there was a passion for inclusion that could become a larger part of my working life. With a strong commercial understanding, my vision is to create an authentically inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can bring their best selves to work. I will use my lived intersectional experience, combined with internal and external stakeholder engagement, to support these goals as part of this new opportunity for change.”