Thompson to leave Brookfield

Neil Thompson is to leave Brookfield after only a year at the development giant. The former Great Portland Estates executive director had been the chief executive of Brookfield Properties UK, overseeing its portfolio outside of Canary Wharf. It is understood that Thompson has not yet agreed to another role.    Brookfield will continue to develop and deploy further capital in London and Thompson’s responsibilities will be taken on by managing partner Zach Vaughan, who heads real estate investments for Brookfield in Europe. A spokesman for Brookfield said: “We can confirm that Neil is leaving Brookfield and we thank Neil for the contribution he has made to Brookfield during his time with us and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.” When Thompson’s departure from GPE was announced at the end of 2016  the company said it was “unable to find a role within the group that matched his career aspirations”. He subsequently replaced Martin Jepson last June, who is yet to emerge in a role elsewhere, to take control of the part of its portfolio made up purely of City office holdings. That portfolio includes 99 and 100 Bishopsgate, Principal Place, 1 & 2 London Wall Place, Citygate House, Citypoint, and Moor Place, all EC2; Leadenhall Court, EC3; and Aldgate Tower, E1. Brookfield is currently selling a 50% stake in 100 Bishopsgate for £700m through Eastdil Secured and BH2. It had been intended that, under Thompson, the company would expand into the West End and also look at more mixed-use and retail development. “We are in a distinct geographical location at present and we need to diversify the portfolio and look at other areas of London, including the West End, South Bank and King’s Cross,” Thompson said at EG’s Finance & Investment Summit last September. To send feedback, e-mail david.hatcher@egi.co.uk or tweet @hatcherdavid or @estatesgazette