Welcome to OBI Josh Hancock
24 April 2026Welcome to OBI, Josh!
We’re delighted to be strengthening our Transactions and Asset Management team with the appointment of Josh Hancock, who joins OBI as a senior hire in Manchester.
Josh becomes part of our leasing and asset management team following 13 years at Bruntwood SciTech, where he was Head of Commercial for the city centre portfolio. During his time there, Josh played a key role in driving the commercial success of Bruntwood’s 40‑building Manchester city centre estate, working across every asset type and product line.
This move also marks the next chapter in a long‑standing relationship with OBI. Josh has worked closely alongside our team for more than a decade on projects right across Manchester, so he’s already a familiar face.
Throughout his career, Josh has led on several major schemes, including Threadworks on Portland Street, a four‑building cluster totalling 120,000 sq ft, which included the £6m refurbishment of 117–119 Portland Street. He’s also overseen the leasing of several standout refurbishments, such as the £35m retrofit of Pall Mall (90,000 sq ft), the £7.5m refurbishment of BOND (50,000 sq ft) and the £13m transformation of Kings House (40,000 sq ft).
At OBI, Josh will be working on some of Manchester’s most high‑profile instructions, including Republic at Mayfield, Eden, Rylands and Quoin, while continuing to advise on leasing across the Bruntwood SciTech portfolio.
Speaking about joining OBI, Josh said:
“What attracted me to OBI at this stage in my career is the opportunity to join a well‑established, market‑leading consultancy with such a strong and varied instruction base in Manchester. I’ve followed OBI’s growth closely, and having worked with the team across most of the Bruntwood portfolio, I know I’m joining a fast‑paced, dynamic and successful business. OBI’s involvement in both landmark new builds and high‑end refurbishments is a huge draw, and I’m excited to be part of the next phase of growth.”
Our Transactions and Asset Management Lead, Andrew Cowell, added:
“Over the last five years, we’ve successfully leased more than 2.1 million sq ft, making OBI Manchester’s most active leasing consultant. Josh’s experience, knowledge and deep understanding of the Manchester market will play a key role in supporting that momentum and ensuring we continue delivering a premium service for our clients.”
Welcome to the team, Josh we’re looking forward to what’s next.
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