A coffee with… José Gil, head of Leasing in Newdock

LIB: Black coffee or latte? Let’s start with a question to stay awake. Could you share any key experience or lesson that has marked your career?

José: It depends on the moment, but a good coffee is always a good complement to accompany the day.

In general, I would say that experience has taught me to be a good listener. I have been involved in many negotiations in which it was impossible to make progress because the interlocutors listened to each other, but did not listen to each other, and that makes it very difficult to reach agreements. In a negotiation, both parties have to win, but you also have to give in when the other’s vision is reasonable.

Some people approach a negotiation as if it were a battle, where there has to be a winner (them) and a loser (the other side). I believe that when you are building a professional relationship, usually over a long period of time, it has to be based on trust and proportionality. Then comes the loyalty phase, which is achieved through exceptional service and a genuine connection.

LIB: What strategies has Newdock implemented to stay at the forefront of innovation in logistics construction?

José: Newdock’s strategy, despite being a young company, has been well defined since its creation: to develop logistics assets of the highest quality in the best locations, with a firm commitment to sustainability and innovation.

In order to meet these objectives, it is necessary to have the best professionals in each area. This not only includes the team that makes up Newdock, it is also crucial when choosing our partners or suppliers in all the areas that comprise the development of this type of project. Only in this way can you set very high goals that, although they are a great challenge, are always based on the confidence that you have the best people to achieve them.

A clear example of this is that we have positioned ourselves as a European leader in sustainable logistics by obtaining 5 LEED® Platinum certifications (Warehouses and Distribution Centres category), of the fourteen that have currently been awarded in Europe.

In addition to the measures necessary to achieve the highest standard in sustainability, we implement functional measures within our buildings such as the building management system (BMS) that allows us to configure and manage a large number of installations remotely (lighting, air conditioning, CCTV, etc.), as well as monitor consumption or production of the photovoltaic installation, all of this to achieve efficient buildings that offer a high level of comfort for the people who work in them.

Un café con... LIB (1250X833px) (7)

LIB: What qualities do you think are essential to successfully lead in the logistics and industrial building sector?

José: For me there are 3 fundamental elements. The first one is to have a deep knowledge of the market, closely following the trends and innovations demanded by the sector. The second is making quality products and managing to do so at reasonable rents, which is not always easy. There is no point in making the best product if your income is outside the market. The third, as I mentioned before, is to surround yourself with the best professionals.

LIB: What are the differences, apart from the location, between the Illescas II project and the Gavilanes project? Are there any new features in the construction compared to other projects?

José: One of Newdock’s principles is that of continuous improvement and this means always being at the forefront both in terms of processes and in the evolution and improvement of our projects. Since we delivered our first warehouse in 2021, all our assets have been incorporating different constructive, functional or image improvements.
In the case of our Illescas and Gavilanes projects, currently under construction and totalling a GLA of 167,000 m2, we have placed greater emphasis on employee comfort, creating rest areas for drivers or greater care in outdoor areas that improve not only the aesthetics of the whole, but also manage to create a more pleasant and functional environment, promoting the well-being and productivity of employees. These improvements not only enhance the quality of working life, but also contribute to a safer and healthier working environment, where employees can feel more valued and motivated.

LIB: At Newdock you have supported the launch of Logistic & Industrial Build from the beginning. As a sponsoring company, but also as a professional in the environmental sector, what would you ask of the event to mark it every year in your diary?

José: For this event to become an essential date in our annual agenda, I think it is essential that it is a forum where the latest technological innovations and trends that are shaping the future of logistics and industrial development are presented. In this sense, I believe that, by going hand in hand with the already more than consolidated Logistic & automation fair, it will be easier to achieve this.
On the other hand, I believe that it should be an excellent opportunity for high-level networking, where contact between the main players in the sector is facilitated and where there is an important representation of end users of our properties. This will ensure that each year, we will be able to extract ideas, connections and opportunities that will help us in our mission to lead the development of state-of-the-art logistics warehouses.

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