John Lewis has named Royal Mail executive Martin Gafsen as its next director of property, effective 15 November.
Gafsen succeeds Chris Harris, who announced back in June that he would be stepping down from his role after more than five years with the business.
He will be responsible for leading the strategy and management of the Partnership’s property portfolio.
Gafsen joins from Royal Mail Group where he was the property and facilities director for the last 16 years.
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He was responsible for leading the strategy of its nationwide freehold and leasehold estate, including facilities management, construction and development.
Prior to that, he spent six years in the corporate finance team at Paribas Investment bank and held several finance roles at other companies.
John Lewis finance director Bérangère Michel said Gafsen’s “wealth of experience will be instrumental in helping to deliver our future growth”.
Gafsen said: “It’s a great privilege to join the Partnership, home to two of the UK’s most loved brands.
“With an extensive and valuable property portfolio, we have an important role to play in ensuring it continues delivering value for the long term benefit of customers and Partners for generations to come.”
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2 Comments. Leave new
Another bad decision.
NO RETAIL EXPERIENCE. Are they ever going to learn. It’s becoming insulting at this point. This is a Retail business in distress which needs acute focus on the basics – which absolutely includes location strategy for waitrose, serious reduction in fit-out costs for JL & WR, new modern ways of thinking in terms of facilities and GNFR. A man who is used to managing industrial warehouses with zero previous Retail knowledge will not help at all.