Hammerson plc (LON:HMSO) has announced that Robert Noel is to succeed David Tyler as Non-Executive Chair of the Company. Mr Noel will join the Board and take over the position with effect from a date to be confirmed but no later than 1 October 2020, at which point Mr Tyler will step down from the Company. When he joins, Mr Noel will also chair the Nominations Committee.
Mr Noel has built a long and successful career in the real estate sector most notably at Great Portland Estates plc and Land Securities Group PLC (Landsec). In March of this year he stepped down from Landsec, where he had held the role of Chief Executive Officer for the past eight years.
Mr Noel is also Senior Independent Director at Taylor Wimpey plc and a Trustee of the Natural History Museum.
Commenting on his appointment to Chair, Robert Noel said: “I am delighted to be joining Hammerson. The retail property sector is going through a period of unprecedented upheaval, but I look forward very much to helping the Company steer through the challenges it is currently facing and capitalise on the significant opportunities ahead.”
Separately, the Company also announced that Desmond (Des) de Beer will join its Board as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Des is a non-executive director of Lighthouse Capital, a property company which invests in direct property and listed real estate securities and which has a 15.1% shareholding in Hammerson.
Commenting on the appointments, Gwyn Burr, the Senior Independent Director at Hammerson, said: “Rob brings with him vast experience of the property industry which will help accelerate the Board’s ambitions to put the Company back onto a stable footing. We are also very pleased to welcome Des, whose experience in retail property and international perspective will make a valuable contribution to the future of Hammerson.”
“The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank David Tyler for his huge commitment and energy as Chair over the past seven years.”
