Lincoln Property Company has announced that it has appointed Alex Aitchison as new managing director for its operations in the UK.
Alex has served as Lincoln’s Director of Development in the UK and has overseen the company’s major projects across the country including, most notably, the £850m mixed-use development at Station Hill in Reading which will provide over 1,300 homes, 625,000 sq ft of market-leading sustainable office space and 95,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.
Alex’s new role will also see him responsible for leading a team focused on identifying new investment and development projects for Lincoln across the UK, as well as the ongoing management of the existing portfolio. Lincoln has already committed £1.4bn to the UK real estate market since entering the UK in June of 2018, but it intends to expand its portfolio of office, BTR, and industrial/data centres assets across the country as it eyes several large development projects, as well as targeted investment opportunities.
As part of Lincoln’s expansion ambitions, it is also looking to target more alternative assets in addition to the mainstream sectors. In 2020 the company’s specialized data centre division, Lincoln Rackhouse, acquired a 145,000 sq ft data centre in Camberley, Surrey. Lincoln hopes to grow its presence in the UK/European data centre market, as well as leverage its deep experience and specialized existing teams from the US to invest in other alternative assets such as film studios and life sciences.
Alongside its UK expansion plans, Lincoln continues to grow its presence across continental Europe. The company is already active in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and last year entered the Polish real estate market through the acquisition of a prime development plot in Warsaw. The Form, a 322,900 sq ft office project in the heart of Warsaw’s central business district, is currently in development.
Led by Troy Javaher, Lincoln’s Head of Europe/UK, the company recently expanded its European team with the appointment of Damian Grzywacz as Managing Director for Poland. A seasoned professional, Damian is responsible for leading the Polish team, as well as overseeing the development of The Form and identifying new investment and development opportunities throughout Poland.
The entry into Poland is the first of several new jurisdictions which Lincoln is targeting, as it builds on the 16 projects it has already invested in across Europe.
Troy Javaher, Head of Europe/UK of Lincoln Property Company, said: “I am delighted to name Alex as our new Managing Director for the UK. Alex has been with us since the launch of our UK operations and has done a fantastic job at leading our flagship UK project in Reading. With this new position, he can play a vital role in identifying our next major investments as we grow our presence in the UK.”
Alex Aitchison, Managing Director for the UK at Lincoln Property Company, added: “I am proud to have been asked to lead Lincoln’s operations in the UK. Having helped assemble the team from 2018, we have a strong and proven track record developing and investing in best-in-class real estate across multiple sectors. Combining local market experience and relationships with Lincoln’s international reputation for excellence, knowledge base and track record over 65 years, I look forward to building on our success in the UK.”
