Property conglomerate Liberty International, listed in both the United Kingdom and South Africa, announced on Friday that Robert Finch would assume the role as the group’s chairman from July 1 2005.
Finch is the most recent mayor of London, the most senior London partner and former head of the property department at leading UK law firm, Linklaters. He was appointed to the Liberty International board as a non-executive Director on February 7 2005.
On taking up the chairmanship, Robert will be retiring from his partnership at Linklaters and will be based at Liberty International’s head office in London.
The group’s outgoing chairman, Donald Gordon, commented: ”We are delighted to announce that Sir Robert Finch has been appointed as Chairman.
Sir Robert brings vast expertise and broad understanding of the property industry, its participants and the wider city of London. We look forward to Liberty International continuing its outstanding long term track record of growth under Sir Robert’s chairmanship as it pursues its strategic objectives through its market-leading UK regional shopping centre business, Capital Shopping Centres, and its other retail and commercial property activities in the UK and USA through Capital & Counties”.
Donald is retiring as Chairman at the end of June 2005 but will be continuing his association with the company, in which his family has a substantial 22% shareholding, as an adviser to the board and in the capacity of president for life. -I-Net Bridge