British Land names new chief executive
British Land has appointed Joanne McNamara as its next chief executive officer, bringing in a senior real estate executive from Oxford Properties to lead the FTSE 100 property company.
McNamara currently serves as executive vice president, Europe at Oxford Properties, the real estate investment, development and management arm of Canadian pension fund OMERS. She is expected to join British Land by the end of November, subject to a notice period of up to six months.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the property sector and has spent the past 16 years at Oxford, having joined the business in 2010 as one of its first London-based employees.
During her time at the company, McNamara has overseen a number of major investment and development transactions and played a key role in expanding Oxford’s European operation. The business now manages a portfolio of office, retail, logistics and residential assets with approximately £8bn of assets under management across Europe.
McNamara is a member of Oxford’s Global Executive Committee and Global Investment Committee and also sits on the OMERS portfolio management committee. Until 2025, she served as a non-executive director of ESR Group, the Asia-Pacific-focused logistics real estate platform.
Prior to joining Oxford, she held positions at Hammerson and property consultancy DTZ.
British Land said McNamara’s appointment follows a board-led recruitment process and will see her take responsibility for leading the company’s next phase of growth and development.
William Rucker, Chairman of British Land, said: “Joanne is one of Europe’s most respected real estate professionals. With her deep expertise of real estate, valuable experience in the world of private capital and a strong reputation for decisive leadership, she is exceptionally well placed to drive the business forward. On behalf of the Board, I look forward to welcoming her to the team.”
McNamara commented: “British Land is a business that I have always admired, with an impressive track record of delivering and managing best in class places across the UK and an expert team at its helm.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the board, executive committee and all of my new colleagues as we work together to build on what is already a fantastic platform for growth.”
Lloyds makes senior housing appointments amid team restructure
Lloyds Banking Group has restructured its Housing Development team and made two senior appointments as it looks to strengthen support for homebuilders, housing associations, registered providers and brokers operating in the new-build sector.
The revised structure places a greater emphasis on specialist expertise while continuing to work alongside the bank’s existing network of Business Development Managers.
As part of the changes, Lloyds has created the new role of Affordable Housing Partnerships Manager. Gina Burrows, formerly National Housing Development Manager, took up the position on 1 June.
Burrows has spent her career with Lloyds Banking Group and will lead the lender’s engagement with housing associations and registered providers. Her responsibilities include developing affordable housing and shared ownership propositions, managing sector relationships and representing the bank across industry bodies, government and external partnerships.
The lender has also appointed Gemma Clark as National Housing Development Manager. Clark joined Lloyds on 1 June from Nationwide Building Society, where she most recently served as Intermediary Proposition Manager.
In her new role, she will oversee relationships with major housebuilders and lead regional engagement across London, the South East, South West and Home Counties. She will also work closely with brokers specialising in new-build homes.
Lloyds said the changes are designed to strengthen its sector expertise while ensuring housing development specialists continue to work closely with broker-facing teams to provide support across the new-build market.
Andy Dean, head of housing development and sustainability at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Access to housing, particularly affordable routes into home ownership, is fundamental to what we do, and to do that we need a team not just capable of delivering for the now but also with the vision to help deliver the future.
“Gina brings real depth of experience and credibility in affordable housing to the newly created role of Affordable Housing Partnerships Manager where she will be a strong partner to housing associations and providers across the sector.
“I’m also pleased to welcome Gemma to the team. Her experience and energy will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our support for home builders and brokers.
“These changes ensure we’re bringing the right expertise to the right partners: working across the sector to support the delivery of new homes and help more people onto the housing ladder.”
Bidwells appoints Laura Jenkinson as head of London planning
Bidwells has appointed Laura Jenkinson as head of London Planning, continuing the firm’s expansion of its planning team in the capital.
Jenkinson joins from Avison Young, where she spent more than 12 years. Her appointment follows the arrival of Jamie Sullivan from Iceni last autumn, as well as the recent recruitment of partners Tim Sturgess and Matthew Pigott.
She has served on the Planning and Sustainability Committees of both the Westminster Property Association and City Property Association, contributed to the British Council for Offices’ Guide to Specification, and been a panel member for the South East’s built environment design support programme.
In her new role, Jenkinson will focus on major development projects across central London, including the City of London, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Brent. Her work will span office, residential, hotel and industrial schemes.
The London planning team now combines Jenkinson’s experience in central London projects with Sturgess and Sullivan’s focus on outer London and strategic planning, and Pigott’s expertise in commercial development, office retrofit and tall buildings.
Before joining Avison Young, Jenkinson held planning roles at Brent Council and the Government Office for London.
Bidwells said the appointments reflect growing demand for planning advice on complex development projects across the capital and form part of its wider investment in its London business.
Chris Pattison, head of planning at Bidwells, said: “London’s most important and complex schemes, such as mixed-use regeneration, tall buildings, and high-profile developments in constrained central locations require advisers who understand the politics of the planning system as well as the technical process. Laura has spent her career working at that intersection and she knows exactly how to operate in that environment. That kind of credibility with decision-makers is a rare asset, and it is increasingly what our clients need when the stakes are so high.”
Jenkinson commented: “The planning system is under more pressure than at almost any point in my career, with stretched local authorities, accelerating policy change, and a government that wants to see delivery at speed and scale. In that environment, the firms that will serve clients well are the ones that can translate the complexity of the planning process into a clear route to valuable and deliverable approvals. What Bidwells has assembled in London is a team with the breadth and experience to work across every part of the market. That is not common, and it’s why it’s such an exciting time to be leading the team.”
