2 May 2017 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal
Apleona HSG Limited is confirmed as the new name for Bilfinger Europa Facility Management, as the business announces the appointment of a new chief executive officer.
In late 2016, Bilfinger sold its building and facility division to EQT Partners. As a result, 2,200 UK colleagues now operate under the Apleona HSG brand, serving a customer portfolio including corporates, banks, retail and leisure destinations, insurance companies and public sector organisations.
From July 1st 2017, James Thoden van Velzen will join Apleona HSG as CEO with responsibility for day-to-day operations within the UK.
Thoden van Velzen was responsible for overseeing major projects including the Upper Thames Street Tunnel LED lighting system and energy management for Tate Galleries, as the business grew from about £200 million to £600 million turnover in seven years.
He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and has worked as operations director at Carillion, facilities director at Aspire Defence Services, and was managing director at Interserve FM before he joined Spie in 2010.
Thoden van Velzen joins the existing Apleona HSG Limited board, which comprises: Pinder Singh Hujan, executive chairman; Dirk Van Breda, CFO & commercial director; Simon Harris, chief operating officer FM and David Eastlake, chief operating officer of Workspace {within Bilfinger). After a phased handover of responsibilities, Jeff Smith, Interim CEO, will revert to his prior role as CEO of the Apleona Ireland business.
Services delivered by Apleona Facilities Management and Apleona Workspace include car parking, catering, cleaning, technical services, grounds maintenance, waste, pest control, front of house, security, consultancy, interior fit-out, moves management and space strategy.