Sir George Iacobescu will retire from the board of Canary Wharf Group on 1 July.
He will be succeeded by former Legal & General boss Sir Nigel Wilson as non-executive chairman.
Iacobescu has been involved in the redevelopment of London’s Docklands since 1988. He became chief executive of CWG in 1997 and chairman in 2011.
Iacobescu said: “It has been the honour and the challenge of a lifetime to have worked with an extraordinary group of people transforming a derelict dock into a thriving mixed-use city district. CWG is the first company on the planet to have built an entirely new central business district from scratch.
“Today, Canary Wharf is home to thousands of residents, businesses large and small across many sectors, one of the UK’s busiest shopping centres as well as parks, gardens, shops, restaurants and bars. It is a thriving community in the heart of the old East End.
“With the continuing growth of the tech sector, health and life sciences, new leisure activities and the greening of the Wharf, there are exciting times ahead for the estate.”
He added: “I am particularly proud of the close working relationship we have had with the local community and the whole of London, helping support local employment and acting as the anchor for the regeneration of east London.”
Wilson said: “For over three decades, Sir George’s visionary leadership, design prowess and engineering acumen have transformed Canary Wharf into a mini-city that competes on a global stage. I have had the privilege of observing his contribution as a force for progressive change for the UK economy, generating jobs, supporting construction firms and bolstering the wider business community.”
He added: “I am excited about the opportunity to leverage my experience to support its growth strategy.”
Wilson was chief executive of Legal & General for almost 12 years and built a reputation as a champion for profitable, sustainable and inclusive growth and for responsible investment and regeneration. He has also held numerous government policy-related roles.
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