British Land names Barclays boss as new CEO

UK REIT British Land announced on Thursday that Chris Grigg has been appointed Chief Executive of the company, succeeding Stephen Hester who moved to the Royal Bank of Scotland in October. Grigg will take up his new position on January 12, 2009.

Grigg, aged 49, was Chief Executive at Barclays Commercial Bank until November this year, having joined the bank in 2005 as Group Treasurer. Prior to Barclays, Chris held a broad range of leadership positions at Goldman Sachs where his career spanned 20 years. He rose to partner of the firm working principally in its capital markets and derivatives businesses.

Chris Gibson-Smith, Executive Chairman of British Land who took over the duties of CEO while a successor for Hester was being found, said: 'Chris Grigg was chosen as new Chief Executive Officer after an extensive selection process which considered candidates with both property and non-property backgrounds. He brings deep knowledge of the investment and financial sectors from his time at Goldman Sachs and wide management experience from his roles at Barclays.'

Grigg graduated from Trinity Hall Cambridge and joined Morgan Grenfell as a graduate in 1981 before moving to Goldman Sachs in 1985. He is married with five children.