Intu Properties plc has announced that the Board has appointed two new non-executive Directors, Rakhi Parekh and John Strachan. The appointments have been made to provide continuity and expertise to the Board given that Neil Sachdev will not be seeking re-election at the 2016 AGM, having served for nine years, and in 2017 Andrew Huntley will be retiring from the Board.
Rakhi Parekh is joining the Board with immediate effect and brings a wealth of experience from the internet retail environment, her early career having included roles at TomTom, content management software provider Article27 and for eleven years until 2014 at Amazon where she held a number of key roles including responsibility for the Amazon UK Media category. Rakhi will bring an up to date perspective on retail and consumer trends, as well as deep insight and knowledge of the digital environment. Rakhi is a non-executive director of Rightmove plc and sits on Rightmove’s Audit and Remuneration Committees.
John Strachan is also joining the Board with immediate effect. John is currently the Global Head of Retail Services at Cushman and Wakefield where he is responsible for the leadership of around 500 professionals worldwide to deliver an operating plan and strengthen Cushman’s retail reputation with the key international brands. John’s career commenced at Healey and Baker in 1972 where he rose
to become Head of UK and European Retail from 1996 to 2000. Healey and Baker was acquired by Cushman and Wakefield in 2000. John brings a wealth of experience from the retail property sector, an international perspective and extensive knowledge of the Spanish retail property market and has a creative and entrepreneurial approach to developing new business opportunities.
Patrick Burgess, Chairman of Intu, commented: “on behalf of the Board of Intu, I am delighted to welcome Rakhi and John to our Board. Both are highly regarded in their respective fields and I look forward to their lively and valuable contributions to the Board’s deliberations and strategic vision.”
Neither Rakhi Parekh or John Strachan currently hold shares in Intu and there is no other information required to be disclosed for each of them under Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
