Heya, are there any other requirements besides the Macros, Layout and no Keychron? How much does he want to spend? Material? And I guess more important, similar style or open for something else? Personally, I haven't had a look at keyboards of this size and style at all, as gaming isn't my priority or the vibe I'm after -- which is probably the case with most people on here (based on posts in this community). Maybe easier to recommend anything with a bit more info... Just skimming over some vendors, full size with makros are rather rare and kits are kinda pricy? TKL or something along those lines would probably be easier to find w/macros (I assume). I really fell in love with the Lemokey L3 for how it looks, which has Macros but its a gaming sub-brand of Keychron(!) and smaller Layout, so this won't be a good recommendation at all. Hope someone else can help in this case and that your co-worker will find one he likes!

https://wooting.io/

No macro keys on the left, but the whole keyboard can be macro-ed. Also the hall effect switches are just about indestructible.

If he's not looking to change the layout or aesthetic, maybe a Razer BlackWidow v4 or a Logitech G815 or Corsair K100. Or he could go cheaper and move the macro keys to the very top with a Redragon K580, though I'd buy from someplace with easy returns for them.

I gotta admit though, gamer stuff that adds extra greeblies and ugly little microswitch buttons are not my jam. On the other hand a basic floating switches low profile "case" gets too much hate. Not everything needs to be a giant slab of machined aluminum. Ultimately, a column of macro-keys on the left is just not super common in the hobbyist space (though there are options, as you know), even less so when a board is already 100% width, though you could go full-bonkers and recommend him a buckling spring monster.