Landsec’s Parsons eyes Argent Related MD role

Argent Related is looking to raid the board of one of the UK’s listed giants for its new managing partner. Scott Parsons (pictured), managing director of Landsec’s retail portfolio, is understood to have resigned from his position Monday afternoon and has been in talks to take up the position. Argent Related is understood to have not yet made a decision on the position, however. Parsons joined Landsec as business development director in 2010. He was subsequently elevated to head of property for the London portfolio, leading the investment, asset and property management teams across the office and retail sector in the capital. He then took on the retail portfolio in 2014 and was appointed to the board at the start of last year. Parsons was also a member of the executive and investment committees and chairman of the retail executive committee at Landsec. Before joining Landsec, he was managing partner at Brookfield Asset Management, leading its European business. He also spent a decade at GE Capital Real Estate. Argent kicked off its search last October for a new chief executive to replace veteran David Partridge, who has been at the firm for more than three decades and has spent 16 years at the helm. There will probably be a year of transition, with Partridge not slated to step away from the day-to-day running of Argent until 2020. He is due to remain at the business in the chairman role. Best known for the development of King’s Cross Central, in its joint venture with US investment and development giant Related, Argent is currently working with Haringey Council to create a new district in Tottenham Hale, N17, delivering more than 1,000 new homes, plus shops, co-working and green space, and with Barnet Council on the 180-acre Brent Cross South site, where it will deliver more than 6,700 homes and workspace for some 25,000 people. It is especially looking to ramp up its involvement with the burgeoning private rented sector. Last year, US developer Related was reported to have come close to buying Almacantar, the developer and investor led by Mike Hussey, but ultimately Amacantar’s investors decided not to sell out. To send feedback, e-mail david.hatcher@egi.co.uk or tweet @hatcherdavid or @estatesgazette