The Crown Estate has today announced the appointment of two new portfolio managers for its Rural and Coastal Portfolio. Robin Clarke will become the Portfolio Manager, East of England and Malcolm Burns, Portfolio Manager, West of England and Wales.
The Crown Estate’s Rural and Coastal portfolio is one of the nation’s largest. It includes 146,000 hectares (360,000 acres) of agricultural land and forestry used commercially for large-scale arable, livestock and dairy farming, mineral extraction and forestry, together with 700 residential properties.
Its coastal assets include marinas, moorings, and interests in many ports and harbours.
The pair will join Ken Jones, who takes up the post of Rural and Coastal Portfolio Director in November, and Alan Laidlaw and Neil Jacobson, who are incumbent Portfolio Managers for Scotland and the South West, respectively.
Robin is currently a partner of Smiths Gore, where he has worked for 16 years; his appointment will take effect from October. He has a farming and rural background and has recently been elected Chairman of the Country Land and Business Association’s Leicestershire and Rutland Branch.
Malcolm Burns has worked for the Co-operative Group since 2004 and is now Land Strategy Manager there, responsible for the Group’s rural landholdings; he also takes up his position at The Crown Estate in October.
Commenting on the appointment Roy Evans, interim Director of the Rural and Coastal Portfolio at The Crown Estate, said: “Robin and Malcolm join the Rural and Coastal Portfolio at an exciting time in its development. I have no doubt that their many years’ experience in land and property management will ensure they are successful in enhancing both value and income from their respective portfolio, in line with The Crown Estate’s core values of commercialism, integrity and stewardship. ”
Robin Clarke said: “Managing the Rural and Coastal Portfolio’s East of England property will no doubt present a host of exciting challenges, both in terms of agricultural land management, but also in relation to the business’s extensive coastal assets. I look forward to joining the team in October.”
Malcolm Burns added: “The opportunity to be part of one of the country’s largest and most diverse rural and coastal businesses is one that I couldn’t pass up after 8 great years at the Co-Operative. I am keen to bring a fresh perspective to how The Crown Estate manages its assets and engages communities, in both the west of England and Wales.”
