Knotel snaps up Knight Frank’s Steve Lydon
to power next phase of growth

Knotel has landed Steve Lydon as Real Estate Partnerships Director, as the managed workspace specialist accelerates its momentum across its UK and European platform. 

Off the back of his role at Knight Frank - where he spearheaded its flex leasing division - Lydon arrives with a well-rounded view of the sector, spanning landlord priorities, occupier expectations and the operational realities that sit between the two.

The hire feels particularly timely, as occupier expectations continue to outpace traditional landlord offerings - with managed solutions stepping in to close that gap. It’s a shift that speaks directly to how the market is evolving, and one Knotel has been steadily building into.

Over the past decade, the business has refined a fully integrated model that goes well beyond traditional leasing - spanning everything from early-stage workspace strategy and design through to fit-out, branding and the day-to-day running of a space once occupiers are in. The aim is simple: remove friction for occupiers, while helping owners drive stronger, more resilient asset performance, and it’s a model that plays directly into Lydon’s background.

At Knight Frank, he had a front-row seat to a market in transition - advising on flex strategy as landlords began to rethink how space is leased and experienced. Stepping into Knotel, he now moves from advising on that shift to actively delivering it.

And the platform is already substantial. With over 7.6 million sq ft delivered across more than 1,350 customers, Knotel is operating at serious scale. Commenting on the hire, Catherine Le Druillenec, Managing Director at Knotel, said: “I’m delighted that Steve is joining us. He will play a pivotal role in driving our revenue growth and market presence as we build momentum in managed office services”.

For Lydon, the opportunity lies in that next phase. He added: “I’m looking forward to joining Knotel, a business at the forefront of managed offices for over a decade. With ambitious plans to expand its end-to-end services - from design and fit-out through to workspace operations - there is a significant opportunity to grow across London and Europe.”

As the managed model continues to mature, operators that can genuinely deliver across the full lifecycle of a workspace are the ones gaining ground. Knotel is firmly in that camp, and this latest hire reinforces that trajectory.

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