// Hammerson appoints Simon Betty to the newly-created role of MD for City Quarters & Developments
// He is currently Hammerson’s Irish retail director
// Through its City Quarters strategy, Hammerson aims to move beyond pure retail
Hammerson has announced the appointment of Simon Betty to lead its City Quarters strategy.
In his newly-created role of City Quarters and developments managing director, Betty will be responsible for implementing and driving the shopping centre landlord’s City Quarters strategy.
Betty, who is currently Hammerson’s Ireland retail director, first joined the retail property giant in 2006.
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He has extensive experience across the business, having worked across developments, retail parks, investor relations and group strategy prior to his current role in Ireland.
Hammerson said the search for Betty’s successor in Ireland has begun and that Betty will retain his responsibilities for the Irish portfolio in the interim.
The City Quarters scheme will effectively see Hammerson transform many of its shopping destinations beyond pure retail into neighbourhoods providing homes, workspace, hotel space and accessible public realms by leveraging over 100 acres of its existing land bank.
The concept has achieved a number of milestones in the last three months.
This includes delivering outline consent for a 326,700sq ft masterplan at Birmingam’s Martineau Galleries and full consent for a new flagship hotel adjacent to Victoria Gate Leeds.
Plans are also afoot for the Goodsyard in Shoreditch, East London.
“Simon has been instrumental in establishing our presence in Ireland since we entered the market in 2015 and his experience across the business will be essential for the delivery phase of City Quarters,” Hammerson chief executive David Atkins said.
“The concept has already made great progress in the last 12 months, and this newly created role will build upon this success, ensuring it delivers value for both stakeholders and local communities.”
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