John Stephen, chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle’s English business, is to leave the firm after 36 years to focus on several other property roles.

Stephen, 59, will depart at the end of October but continue to be involved in real estate. He remains director of F&C Commercial Property Trust and Max Property Group, adviser to Evans Property Group and trustee of the Portman Estate.

Stephen said: ‘I have worked alongside some legendary figures from all parts of the globe.

‘JLL continues to prosper and will emerge even stronger from the downturn – of that I have no doubt.’

Stephen has been a partner or director at JLL for nearly 30 years. He spent five years in the 1980s in Hong Kong and Tokyo before returning to London for the City development boom of the late 1980s. Having played a key role in attracting Japanese investors to London, Stephen set up the firm’s West End investment team in the 1990s.

Colin Dyer, JLL’s global CEO, said: ‘John Stephen has been a key business winner for us.

‘He has built many longstanding and highly rewarding client relationships and exemplifies what JLL is all about: focus on clients and ensuring outstanding client service.’

Stephen’s successor will be announced shortly.

For more details, see this week's issue of Property Week.