JLL appoints former CBRE Executive Managing Director as Life Sciences Industry Lead following firm’s record-breaking EMEA performance

JLL announced today that Juan Pablo Negus has joined the business as Industry Head for EMEA Life Sciences Accounts, to support the organisation’s ambitious growth plans, leveraging his strong relationships, extensive market knowledge solution-based approach, to build on the firm’s recent success in the sector.

Negus’ role will focus on growing new and organic client solutions across all JLL Service Lines, in addition to expanding the business’ footprint into key new EMEA markets. Reporting to Martin Jensen, Division President for EMEA, Work Dynamics, at JLL, Juan Pablo will primarily work based in London.

A recognised leader in the CRE industry, Negus boasts over 25 years in executive leadership roles, with extensive Life Sciences and industrial operations management expertise from CBRE, where he served as Executive Managing Director, having also previously led the firm’s Novartis account.

“We are delighted to welcome Juan Pablo to the business. He has extensive experience in multiple industries and regions throughout an impressive career,” said Jensen. “The regulatory strength of the sector, capital availability, ongoing technological transformation, and evolving space needs, have created a complex market that Juan Pablo’s appointment will help us take advantage of, providing new opportunities to support clients with sophisticated real estate expertise.” He added: “His life sciences and industrial operations experience, stellar reputation, and excellent connections will help us to build on a record year for the business.”

JLL has achieved remarkable growth in the Life Sciences sector since early 2025, expanding its portfolio by approximately 280% in square footage and nearly tripling its site count during that time. The firm has secured contracts with several Fortune 500 pharmaceutical, healthcare, and medical technology leaders, expanding its capabilities into manufacturing facilities across 58 sites in 15 countries – almost double JLL's total life sciences footprint across all asset classes at the start of 2025. JLL’s increasing presence in Ireland – leading pharmaceutical cluster – has played a significant part of its EMEA expansion, where the firm has become one of the market leaders managing 16 sites, providing a foothold in a vital market for growth.

Recent success has been driven by strategic investments in talent, boosting the Life Sciences Division's collective pharmaceutical industry expertise as part of JLL's growth strategy for the region. The EMEA division has experienced transformational expansion, growing from 100 to nearly 700 professionals (673) in the last year—a nearly sevenfold increase. This rapid scale-up has strengthened an industry-leading network of SME partnerships and significantly enhanced regional capabilities, with Juan Pablo's appointment representing the latest high-profile addition to this expansion.

"I'm excited to join JLL at a pivotal moment for European business and the life sciences sector. The fundamentals remain incredibly strong, with European companies securing over half of all FDA and EMA drug approvals in 2025, and venture capital investment reaching nearly $14 billion, the second-highest year on record," said Negus. "The AI revolution is also fundamentally transforming the sector, with 97% of life sciences companies piloting AI applications and driving demand for more flexible, technology-enabled space. JLL's global platform, sophisticated digital capabilities, and integrated service model uniquely position us to help our clients navigate this complexity and capitalise on these opportunities."