Hammerson announces major new retail role

Property development and investment firm Hammerson announced the creation of a major new retail role on Monday.

The group said it has appointed Mark Bourgeois – currently executive director of Capital and Regional – to the position of managing director UK and Ireland, responsible for its £6.2bn retail portfolio.

It said that following the company’s entry into the Irish retail property market last year, the role will strengthen its strategic retail credentials and assume overall responsibility for leasing, asset management and operations across the shopping centre and retail parks portfolio in the UK and Ireland.

Hammerson noted Bourgeois has over 20 years of experience, having managed Capital & Regional’s retail portfolio, with responsibility for repositioning high profile retail and leisure destinations across the UK.

As part of the change in structure to the senior team, current director of UK and Ireland shopping centres, Martin Plocica, will step back from the business on a day-to-day basis. He will support the company in transitioning to the new structure before leaving in 2017.

Chief executive officer David Atkins said: “The ever-increasing pace of structural change in retail has led us to revaluate how we operate as a business and how we drive forward the various divisions. This role brings a new level of expertise and skills and is in line with our ambition to deliver the best European retail locations for our retailers and consumers."

At 1145 BST, Hammerson shares were up 0.2% to 559.25p.