Derwent chief elected Westminster Property Association chair

Paul Williams, chief executive of Derwent London, has been elected chair of the Westminster Property Association. Williams, who takes over from Dolphin Living boss Olivia Harris, will sit for a two-year term, with Marcus Geddes, Landsec’s London managing director, as vice chair. The WPA is one of Westminster’s most influential local lobby groups, with members including bosses at the Crown Estate, Grosvenor, Shaftesbury, British Land and Great Portland Estates. Speaking to EG this morning, Williams said that diversity, sustainability and helping West End businesses survive the pandemic would be high on the agenda as he takes post. However, he also stressed that it was important that London did not get left behind in the government’s plans to invest in other parts of the country, marketed as its ‘levelling up’ agenda. “I think there is a perception that [London] is just a rich city. If you go to Westminster you will see some very wealthy areas. But there is also lots of poverty,” he says. “You do not level up the country by levelling down London. You need to have a balance.” Meanwhile, he praised the work done by his predecessor Olivia Harris, chief executive of Dolphin Living, in shoring up the WPA’s partnership with Westminster City Council. “Trust has been rebuilt. The great thing that Olivia has done … is that the relationship between us and Westminster council is stronger. And I have to give credit to council leader Rachael Robathan for how much they [Westminster] have reached out too.” The membership body has also appointed three new members to its board. Katherine Lampen, a partner who leads Deloitte’s UK climate change team, will be joined by Katy Ghahremani, a partner at renowned architectural practice Make and Richard Rees, managing director of Savills UK business, who leads the company’s development services division.  Outgoing chair Harris said: “The response to the crisis over the past year by our members and the public sector has been hugely impressive, and we can take comfort from what has been achieved by working together during this difficult time. The WPA is well placed to continue advocating on behalf of Central London’s property industry under Paul’s leadership.  “The appointments of Katy, Katherine and Richard, who are leaders in design, sustainability and development respectively, will provide us with invaluable insight and expertise as the WPA works in collaboration with Westminster City Council to drive the economic recovery and implement plans to be net zero carbon by 2040.” To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@egi.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @estatesgazette Image courtesy of PR