Hammerson Appoints Rob Wilkinson as New CEO

Hammerson (LON:HMSO) announced the appointment of Rob Wilkinson as its new Chief Executive Officer on Tuesday.

It was revealed that Wilkinson will officially assume the CEO role on January 1, 2026, succeeding Rita-Rose Gagné, who will retire after five years at the helm.

He will join the Board as CEO Designate on December 15, 2025, to facilitate a smooth handover. Gagné will remain in her position throughout 2025, ensuring an orderly transition of responsibilities.

Wilkinson joins Hammerson from AEW Europe, where he served as CEO for over 11 years. His extensive experience in real estate investment, spanning 30 years and including roles at Goodman Group, Eurohypo, and UBS, is expected to position him well to lead Hammerson through its next phase.

He also brings governance experience from his time as a Non-Executive Director at Grainger plc and currently at Derwent London plc.

Robert Noel, Chair of Hammerson, expressed confidence in Wilkinson's ability to deliver shareholder value, highlighting his established leadership and track record.

Wilkinson himself acknowledged the progress made under Gagné's leadership, noting the “major turnaround of the portfolio and restructured balance sheet.”

He added that he is looking forward to helping advance Hammerson's “unique portfolio of prime retail and leisure anchored city destinations,” signalling a commitment to building upon the company's existing strengths.

“I am honoured to have been appointed as CEO of Hammerson,” stated Rob Wilkinson, “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.”