Longstanding Westfield UK boss departs

Peter Miller, the former head of UK and Europe at shopping centre landlord Westfield, has left the business after nearly 25 years with the firm. It is understood that Miller plans to pursue new opportunities and potentially relocate to Australia later this year, after an extended trip abroad. He was latterly special advisor and chief operating officer for the UK, Italy and Benelux operations at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. He had gained the appointment after Unibail-Rodamco acquired Australia’s Westfield Corporation last year, in a continuation of his role as chief operating officer for UK and Europe for Westfield. Miller was one of three key Westfield personnel to transfer to the UK in 1999 to establish the Westfield brand in the local market. Having joined Westfield as a development executive in 1994, Miller has held senior roles across the UK and Australian divisions including director of design, development and construction. Under his leadership, the firm built and launched Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City as well as Westfield Derby, now known as intu Derby after the rival landlord bought the property in 2014. The news comes after Duncan Bower, former director of development at the shopping centre landlord, left the business in March. Bower had joined Westfield in 2006 from Lendlease. It is not clear whether URW plans to replace Miller on the ground in the UK. Its chief operating officer for Europe is Michel Dessolain, a legacy Unibail executive. Neither URW nor Miller responded to requests for comment at the time of writing. To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette