Key Takeaways
- • Tony Horrell, former chairman of Colliers UK & Ireland who stepped down in December 2025 after 14 years leading the firm, has joined Madison Lincoln as senior adviser to support strategic growth and expand the recruiter's advisory capabilities.
- • Madison Lincoln, a specialist property industry executive search and advisory firm, appointed Horrell to strengthen its senior advisory credibility and deepen engagement with real estate sector leadership amid the firm's expansion into building surveying, project management, and real estate finance.
- • Horrell brings over four decades of experience in real estate and capital markets; in his new role, he will leverage his extensive network to connect senior talent with organizations and support clients navigating increased regulatory complexity and market uncertainty in real estate hiring decisions.
- • The appointment represents a significant milestone for Madison Lincoln's growth strategy, with co-founder Tom McNally stating the firm recognized the need to strengthen advisory capability in a competitive market by securing an executive with "unparalleled experience, insight and relationships."
Summary
Tony Horrell, the recently departed chairman of Colliers UK & Ireland, has transitioned to a senior adviser position at Madison Lincoln, a specialist recruiter focused on the real estate and capital markets sectors. Horrell stepped down from his non-executive chairman role at Colliers in December 2025, concluding a 14-year tenure at the helm of the commercial real estate services firm. He remains engaged in select consultancy work while taking on this new advisory capacity.
Madison Lincoln, an executive search and advisory firm, positioned the hire as a strategic expansion of its senior advisory offering. Co-founder and managing director Tom McNally emphasized that as a growing business, Madison Lincoln identified the need to bolster its senior advisory credibility and competitive positioning in the real estate recruitment market. Horrell's appointment directly supports this objective, bringing extensive industry relationships and experience to strengthen client engagement with senior leaders across the real estate sector.
In his advisory role, Horrell will focus on supporting Madison Lincoln's strategic growth, strengthening connections with clients and partners, and leveraging his four-decade network to unlock new opportunities across the real estate industry. Horrell underscored the people-centric nature of real estate recruitment, noting that the ability to connect quality talent with appropriate organizations has become increasingly critical. He highlighted the elevated stakes in senior hiring decisions, pointing to the significant costs organizations face when making incorrect executive appointments in an environment characterized by heightened regulation and ongoing market uncertainty.
Madison Lincoln has articulated plans to expand into specialist sectors including building surveying, project management, and real estate finance—areas where Horrell's deep industry experience and network will provide strategic value. The firm's leadership expects his appointment will enhance both internal capability and client service delivery in an increasingly complex real estate market where deliberate, thorough talent evaluation has become essential for organizational success.
Madison Lincoln, an executive search and advisory firm, positioned the hire as a strategic expansion of its senior advisory offering. Co-founder and managing director Tom McNally emphasized that as a growing business, Madison Lincoln identified the need to bolster its senior advisory credibility and competitive positioning in the real estate recruitment market. Horrell's appointment directly supports this objective, bringing extensive industry relationships and experience to strengthen client engagement with senior leaders across the real estate sector.
In his advisory role, Horrell will focus on supporting Madison Lincoln's strategic growth, strengthening connections with clients and partners, and leveraging his four-decade network to unlock new opportunities across the real estate industry. Horrell underscored the people-centric nature of real estate recruitment, noting that the ability to connect quality talent with appropriate organizations has become increasingly critical. He highlighted the elevated stakes in senior hiring decisions, pointing to the significant costs organizations face when making incorrect executive appointments in an environment characterized by heightened regulation and ongoing market uncertainty.
Madison Lincoln has articulated plans to expand into specialist sectors including building surveying, project management, and real estate finance—areas where Horrell's deep industry experience and network will provide strategic value. The firm's leadership expects his appointment will enhance both internal capability and client service delivery in an increasingly complex real estate market where deliberate, thorough talent evaluation has become essential for organizational success.
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