Harworth hires Shillaw as CEO amid ‘robust’ income

Harworth Group CEO Lynda Shillaw

Rotherham-based property and land regeneration firm Harworth Group said on Thursday it appointed Lynda Shillaw of Town Centre Securities to succeed Owen Michaelson as Harworth’s chief executive officer. 

Harworth also published a trading update saying its income collection, generated from a predominantly industrial tenant base, continues to be “robust.”

Harworth said: “As of today, 95% of Business Space rent, including a small number of tenants making monthly payments, has been received for the June Quarter Date, broadly in line with both Quarter 1 and historical performance.”

Shillaw’s appointment will take effect on November 1, 2020, allowing time for an orderly handover before Michaelson retires from the company on December 31.

Shillaw is currently group property director and a board member at Town Centre Securities plc where she leads the management of its land and property and its development pipeline. 

Before that she was Divisional CEO, Property at the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), where she was responsible for MAG’s investment portfolio and development land bank, including its “Airport City” joint venture. 

This followed a long career managing both investment and development real estate portfolios for BT and Co-operative Group before joining Lloyds Banking Group as Global Head of its Real Estate lending division. 

Shillaw is also a non-executive director of The Crown Estate and Vivid Housing Association.

Harworth chair Alastair Lyons said: “I am delighted to have someone succeeding Owen who is as well known in our core regions and beyond as Lynda is for the depth of her real estate and regeneration experience and who has an undoubted natural affinity for our core purpose — to transform land and property into sustainable places where people want to live and work.

“I have great confidence in her ability to lead Harworth on the next stage of its application of its highly differentiated skills as a master developer to generate long-term market leading returns.

“I would also like to thank Owen for what Harworth has achieved under his leadership and wish him well for the future.”

Shillaw said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to lead a highly regarded business that makes a real contribution to the communities in which it works.

“Few companies have Harworth’s track record in successfully regenerating large complex sites and I look forward to working with and leading such a strong and experienced team in a part of the world with which I have a strong association.”