Freehold appoints new chairs
LGBTQ+ property networking forum Freehold has appointed Tigrou Consulting director Kelly Canterford and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield chief operating officer Scott Parsons as its new co-chairs.
Canterford and Parsons (pictured above) are replacing co-founders Saleem Fazal and David Mann (below). Fazal is a partner at Taylor Wessing, while Mann is a partner at TFT.
The duo will both become Freehold ambassadors, a position also held by former board members Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury; Brie Stevens-Hoare QC of Gatehouse Chambers; and Ollie Saunders, head of UK commercial valuation and alternatives at JLL.
LGBTQ+ property networking forum Freehold has appointed Tigrou Consulting director Kelly Canterford and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield chief operating officer Scott Parsons as its new co-chairs.
Canterford and Parsons (pictured above) are replacing co-founders Saleem Fazal and David Mann (below). Fazal is a partner at Taylor Wessing, while Mann is a partner at TFT.
The duo will both become Freehold ambassadors, a position also held by former board members Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury; Brie Stevens-Hoare QC of Gatehouse Chambers; and Ollie Saunders, head of UK commercial valuation and alternatives at JLL.
It is the first time the forum has appointed new leadership in a decade.
Canterford said: “Being a member of Freehold since its launch back in 2011, I’ve gained so much from the leadership of David and Saleem in creating a path for change and it’s been incredible.
“I am excited to take from their example and, together with Scott, lead Freehold into the next decade of transformation.”
Highlights over the past decade include working with industry bodies including the RICS, RIBA, BPF, Revo and Movers & Shakers to promote diversity and inclusion, and working with companies to host events that enable Freehold to be a free-to-join individual membership group.
The form has also raised more than £80,000 for nearly 70 charities and created a mentoring scheme to encourage members’ development, and develop LGBTQ+ role models where previously there were none.
Mann said: “We have always aimed to create momentum for change by enabling others to gain the self-confidence to come out within their organisation, become role models and be that catalyst for improving the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in property.
“No organisation can now say ‘We have no gay staff’ or ‘We are totally inclusive’, as we often heard in our early days.”
Fazal said: “As co-founders of Freehold, we are enormously proud of what has been achieved in the past 10 years and, while we are stepping down as co-chairs, we will continue to advocate what a welcoming place it is for everyone.”
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