LONDON: Hammerson plc today announced the appointment of Rob Wilkinson as Chief Executive Officer.
Rob will join the Board on 15 December 2025 as Chief Executive Officer Designate and will take up his role as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 January 2026.
Rob will succeed Rita-Rose Gagné who, as announced in June, has informed the Board of her intention to retire from Hammerson in 2026, following five years in role. Rita-Rose will continue to lead the business during 2025 and ensure an orderly transfer of her responsibilities, before stepping down as CEO and from the Board on 31 December 2025.
Rob joins Hammerson from AEW Europe, where he has served as the Chief Executive Officer for over 11 years. He joined AEW in 2009, initially serving as Chief Investment Officer in Europe until 2014 when he was appointed CEO.
He was previously a Non-Executive Director at Grainger plc from 2015 to 2023 and has been a Non-Executive Director of Derwent London plc since 2024. Rob brings 30 years of experience in real estate investment markets having previously worked at Goodman Group, Eurohypo and UBS. A qualified chartered accountant, Rob holds a degree in law from the University of Cambridge.
Rob’s appointment follows a thorough recruitment process, supported by an independent executive search firm.
Robert Noel, Chair of Hammerson, said: “We are delighted to be appointing Rob Wilkinson as the next CEO of Hammerson. Rob is an established and proven real estate leader who brings a wealth of experience and a track record of delivering shareholder value.
Through a rigorous recruitment process, Rob stood out from a strong field of candidates as someone who was able to translate strategic insight into shareholder value creation through exceptional leadership. On behalf of the Board, I welcome Rob to Hammerson and look forward to working with him when he joins the business in December.”
Rob Wilkinson added: “I am honoured to have been appointed as CEO of Hammerson and look forward to working with the team. Under Rita-Rose’s leadership the company has completed a major turnaround of the portfolio and restructured the balance sheet, firmly establishing Hammerson in a new phase of growth. I am excited to continue this journey, advancing the company’s unique portfolio of prime retail and leisure anchored city destinations.”