Ground Rents Income Fund has appointed Barry Gilbertson as an independent non-executive director, effective 10 February 2021.
Malcolm Naish will retire as chairman and as a non-executive director of the company at the company’s next annual general meeting.
Barry Gilbertson is a consultant with a focus on real estate, strategy and risk, having more than 45 years’ experience advising on property, including as an adviser to the Bank of England and as President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Gilbertson is a former partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers (formerly Coopers & Lybrand) and former non-executive consultant to Knight Frank LLP. He has held advisory appointments with the United Nations and with the UK Government.
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Gilbertson was recently appointed as Executive Chairman of Custodian Capital Limited, a subsidiary of Mattioli Woods plc, on 4 January 2021. His previous public company independent non-executive directorships include Custodian REIT, Granite REIT and RONA Incorporated. Gilbertson has chaired or served on various committees in these companies, including Audit (and Risk), Governance, Nominations, Strategy and Remuneration.
Barry Gilbertson served on the Council of The University of Bath from 2014 to 2020, previously serving on the Finance Committee and for the last two years chairing the new Remuneration Committee; holds Visiting Professor appointments at two UK universities and has been awarded Honorary Membership of four international professional bodies. Among his voluntary roles, Barry is Chairman of The City of Bath UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Malcolm Naish has acted as chairman of the company since its initial public offering in 2012 and recently oversaw the transition to Schroders as the new Alternative Investment Fund Manager. It is intended that Barry will succeed Malcolm as chairman, on his retirement.
“Barry’s extensive REIT and wider real estate experience will be a valuable addition to the Board, helping position the Company for future growth, while managing the current leasehold reform process effectively,” said Malcolm Naish, Chairman of Ground Rents Income Fund.
”I am looking forward to joining the Company. I am keen to support the Board and the wider team in their considerable work navigating upcoming leasehold and regulatory reform in a way which protects the Company’s interests, whilst making sure that leaseholders are treated fairly,” said Barry Gilbertson, Chairman-elect of Ground Rents Income Fund.
