New Director appointed by Crown Estate

The Crown Estate announces today (15 August 2012) that Ken Jones is to be appointed as Director of its Rural and Coastal portfolio.

Ken’s appointment will take effect from 1 November 2012. He is currently a Director of Savills with responsibility for rural portfolio evaluation, agricultural investment and international farmland. He leaves after 32 years’ service.

Ken Jones: new Director of Rural and Coastal portfolio for The Crown Estate

Commenting on the appointment The Crown Estate’s Chief Executive, Alison Nimmo, said: “I am delighted that Ken Jones is to be our new Director of the Rural and Coastal portfolio. As an advisor to us for a number of years, he has a deep understanding of the portfolio and our values. Ken will lead a newly established team of portfolio managers, and combine his extensive experience in institutional property management to make a major contribution to the long term strategic direction and success of the business.”

Ken Jones added: “I look forward to joining The Crown Estate in this challenging and exciting role to unlock commercial value but in collaboration with the many communities in which we operate. The Crown Estate’s rural and coastal portfolio is one of the largest in the country and my experience, understanding and respect for the core values and reputation of businesses such as The Crown Estate and Savills, will help to unlock the potential of this part of the business, for long term benefit of the nation’s finances.”

The Rural and Coastal portfolio is one of the nation’s largest. It includes 146,000 hectares (360,000 acres) of agricultural land and forestry used commercially for large-scale arable, livestock and dairy farming, mineral extraction and forestry, together with 700 residential properties. Its coastal assets include marinas, moorings, and interests in many ports and harbours.