Ex-Hermes boss joins Milligan

Rupert Clarke, the former chief executive of Hermes Real Estate, has joined retail developer Milligan as its chairman.

The firm has also appointed CBRE’s head of retail management Jane Wynne. She will become commercial operations director with overall responsibility for developing and implementing commercial strategies across all Milligan development projects, including the 1m sq ft Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire (pictured); where Milligan has taken on a strategic role, working alongside new owner TIAA-CREF.

Founder John Milligan said, “Rupert and Jane’s considerable experience in the financial markets and the retail property sector respectively make them first-class additions to the Milligan development team at this exciting time for our business, and against the background of an increasing number of opportunities in the market place.

“The rapid structural shifts taking place in retailing require a whole new approach to the way retail space is developed and managed. Milligan’s highly experienced multidisciplinary team, and the unique development proposition that we can deliver, has never been more relevant, particularly on those centres that need a different approach to reposition themselves for the future.”

Clarke added: “Milligan has an exceptional offer and is extremely well positioned to play an increasingly important role in redeveloping and repositioning existing and new centres as retail market pressures intensify. The key hires made this year significantly enhance Milligan’s delivery capability, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in supporting the growth of the business alongside the exceptional team of retail specialists that Milligan has assembled.”

samantha.mcclary@estatesgazette.com