Chris Grigg, CEO of UK REIT British Land for over a decade, is stepping down following delivery of the company’s 2021 interim results on 18 November.
Grigg, who will also leave the board and the company on 31 December, will be replaced by Simon Carter, currently chief financial officer of British Land.
Carter has a broad range of experience within the real estate and finance sectors and was previously the chief financial officer of Logicor, the pan-European logistics warehouse business. Prior to that, he was finance director of Quintain Estates & Development, a leading build-to-rent and mixed-use development business and owner of the 85-acre (34 ha) mixed-use development site at Wembley.
Before that, he spent over a decade with British Land, holding a number of roles including heading the strategy, corporate finance and treasury teams and was a member of the executive committee from 2012 until 2015.
His successor as chief financial officer will be announced in due course, British Land said.
‘Chris joined as chief executive in 2009 and has led our business with distinction,’ said Tim Score, chairman. ‘He has been instrumental at putting placemaking, sustainability, design excellence and a focus on the customer at the heart of how we do business.’
Chris Grigg, chief executive, said: ‘It has been a privilege to lead British Land over the last 11 years, but I am confident that now is the right time to hand over to Simon. I am immensely proud of what we have delivered over my time as CEO. We’ve significantly repositioned our portfolio towards our London mixed use business and, through our campuses, we have created three world-class neighbourhoods for London that not only resonate with our customers but truly benefit their local communities.’
Simon Carter, chief financial officer, added: ‘It has been a great pleasure to work with Chris and it is an honour to succeed him as CEO. Over his time at British Land I have seen first-hand the significant cultural, organisational and strategic change Chris has delivered right across our company.
'Like many businesses, we face short-term challenges because of the current Covid-19 crisis, and we continue to respond to the longer-term structural changes in the way people are using real estate. I am convinced however that this brings opportunity and I am confident that with our expert teams and world class assets we are well placed to continue the evolution of British Land and deliver sustainable value over the long term.’
