Ex-Debenhams chair Cheshire to chair Bluewater owner Landsec - report

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 16, 2023

Sir Ian Cheshire, the well respected business executive who used to be chairman of Debenhams, is being tipped to become chairman of Landsec, the part owner of the Bluewater shopping mall, among other major retail destinations.

He’s also currently chairman of broadcaster Channel 4 and is the leading candidate for the Landsec job, according to a report on Sky News.

He would replace Cressida Hogg in the role with sources telling Sky that an announcement could happen at some point this month.

Landsec owns almost half of Bluewater, having increased its holding in recent periods, and is also the mall’s operator. Additionally, it owns the Piccadilly Lights advertising screens in London’s Piccadilly Circus while key retail properties St David’s in Cardiff and Braintree Village in Essex are in its heavyweight portfolio.

The prospective new chairman has plenty of experience in retail. As well as previously chairing Debenhams, he was also once at the helm of Kingfisher, the company that owns DIY Retail at B&Q. 

Cressida Hogg is leaving Landsec in order to take the chairman's role at defence giant BAE Systems.

Assuming the Sky report is accurate, the incoming chairman would be working with chief executive Mark Allan as he continues to reshape the mall giant’s portfolio post-pandemic amid challenging conditions.