Region’s biggest property firm makes key appointment
The firm behind one of the biggest deals likely to be seen in the UK property sector has made a key appointment.
North West firm Peel has taken on a new marketing director to lead its brand and marketing strategies across its £2.6bn property firm.
The company, which has its head office at the Trafford Centre, is part of a consortium which is looking to buy shopping centre landlord Intu for £2bn.
The firm’s portfolio includes 20,000 acres of land and 12 million sq ft of property.
Peel L&P, which is part of the Peel Group, houses a 14-strong marketing team working across brand, digital, marketing, PR, social media, design and motion graphics.
Ian Wilson will bring over 20 years’ experience to Peel L&P acquired through agency and in-house roles.
He has previously worked with two of the UK’s leading residential and commercial regeneration companies – Urban Splash and Bruntwood.
Ian will be responsible for marketing across Peel L&P’s diverse businesses including MediaCityUK, Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters which fall under Peel L&P’s strategic waters sites, as well as the land and planning division, waterways, nature reserves, airports, TraffordCity, leisure, logistics and industrial space, retail and business parks, energy and environmental.
He said: “As a native Liverpudlian and adopted Mancunian, I’ve long admired the scale and breadth of activity that Peel L&P has undertaken.
“The business is agile and ambitious with a long-term sustainable view and a legacy of delivery for some of the most transformational development projects in the north.”
Ian also had a secondment as head of marketing at Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP), the UK’s largest science park operator where he led the marketing for the flagship Alderley Park site, MSP Central Campus, Citylabs 1.0 and Salford Innovation Park.
Neil Lees, deputy chairman of the Peel Group, said: “As well as overseeing the marketing for our various businesses, Ian will be looking at how we better articulate the brand value proposition for what Peel L&P represents, both internally and to our broad range of external stakeholders.
“Ian brings a wealth of expertise and experience to Peel L&P and has a solid in-house team supporting him.”
He added: “Over the next ten to 20 years we have some truly amazing schemes in the development pipeline including rolling out the next exciting phases for our Strategic Waters sites.
“In addition to this, we will be creating 13 million sq ft of workspace and 14 million sq ft of public realm, so from a placemaking and property marketing perspective, it’s going to be a real challenge but when you realise how much socio-economic benefit these schemes will bring to the north, you can’t help but feel proud to play a small part in what goes on here.”
