Ciaran Bird, former head of CBRE's UK & Ireland advisory business, has been appointed as a strategic adviser at property technology firm LightWork AI. Bird, who spent 20 years at CBRE and oversaw a division of approximately 4,000 people before stepping down in 2025, will assist the company's founders with strategy and leadership team development.
LightWork AI, established in 2024 by Leonard Charlton and Rameen Sorkhabi, has created Felicity, an AI agent designed to manage incoming communications for residential sales and lettings agencies. This system handles calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, and property portal enquiries.
Bird stated that he evaluated several AI businesses in the property sector before taking on the role. He noted that agents rely on judgement and service, which cannot be delivered if calls are missed. The company aims to expand into institutional property sectors, including build-to-rent, student accommodation, and affordable housing, with Bird's experience supporting this growth.