Pioneering Industry Veteran Peter Goldsmith Joins Chestertons Board

Peter Goldsmith, one of the global property industry's foremost innovators, with more than half a century's experience to his name, has been appointed to the board of leading London residential and lettings agency Chestertons as a non-executive director. A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Peter previously sat on the boards of leading property companies including Humberts Ltd and COBA Asset Management.

Robert Bartlett, Group CEO of Chestertons, says: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Peter. This is a fabulous coup for our business, and we know that he will be a hugely valuable asset to the company as we consolidate our position at the top end of the London residential market. Peter is renowned as a truly forward thinking expert in our industry – a genuine pioneer –which makes him an ideal fit for Chestertons' proactive attitude to expanding the business and constantly innovating to deliver ever higher standards of excellence and commitment to customer service."

Peter Goldsmith brings an unparalleled wealth of experience in commercial and residential property, both in the UK and oversea. Now in the sixth decade of a highly distinguished career, he has built a strong reputation for driving forward new businesses and has fulfilled partner and CEO roles across a number of flourishing agencies and consultancies, leading the development of company vision and strategy, performance monitoring and corporate governance.

Peter also established his own successful private real estate business, Sinclair Goldsmith, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1987. Last year he launched Peter Goldsmith LLP, a Harley Street consultancy practice offering advice to investors, institutions, property companies and high-net-worth individuals. He has particularly strong business connections in the Far East, where he liaises with major institutional investors. His extensive network of contacts spans the legal, accountancy, property, surveying and architecture sectors.

Peter comments: "I am delighted to join the board of Chestertons at this very exciting time in the company's evolution. I hope my 52 years in the property industry, with a wide-ranging involvement both in executive and non-executive capacities, will enable me to play my part in promoting this outstanding global brand."

Biography

Peter Goldsmith FRICS has a wealth of experience gained in the property industry in the UK and overseas, including senior Board level experience in both Executive and Non-Executive Director (NED) roles. Some notable highlights are listed below.

GOLDSMITH MESSING LLP
Joint Senior Partner

Established a successful niche property consultancy, working on a wide range of transactions, both in the UK and Germany.
Retained on a sole basis by a top London-based law firm to find a new 50,000 sq. ft. headquarters building
Successfully concluded negotiations on behalf of a private family (owning a portfolio of properties forming part of the major Earls Court re-development project) at a price significantly above existing use value

HIGHGROUND SECURITIES LIMITED
Sole Director
Co-developer on 2 projects within Royal Exchange Buildings in the City of London
1 and 2 Royal Exchange Buildings pre-let to Karen Millen and the upper floors let floor by floor prior to completion of the works
3 and 4 Royal Exchange Buildings basement, ground and first floor pre-let on a 25 year lease to Louis Vuitton and the upper floors let floor by floor.
Subsequently negotiated the sale of the completed investments to institutional buyers

CONRAD RITBLAT SINCLAIR GOLDSMITH PLC
Chief Executive Officer of Conrad Ritblat Sinclair Goldsmith plc, a business employing up to 400 personnel
Successfully merged the two separate property practices into one integrated business
Primary point of contact with City analysts for providing business review and commentary on the company's performance, working closely with the Chairman, Sir John Ritblat

SINCLAIR GOLDSMITH PLC
Joint Managing Director
Successfully floated the business on the London Stock Exchange in 1987, one of only three commercial surveying firms ever to do so
Built up the practice to be one of the leading firms in the City of London

SINCLAIR GOLDSMITH & COMPANY
Formed this very successful London-based multi-disciplined practice, dealing with commercial property throughout Greater London.
Led major projects including providing advice on the acquisition, refurbishment and redevelopment of the former Billingsgate Fish Market, London EC4, which subsequently became the new global headquarters of HSBC, one of the world's largest banks.
Acted as sole property adviser for a major subsidiary of NatWest Bank plc

VARIOUS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSHIPS
Chairman on an Advisory Committee to BDO Stoy Hayward
Non-Executive Chairman of the Investment Committee of COBA Asset Management
Non-Executive Director of Chesterton Global Limited
Non-Executive Director of Humberts Limited

-Ends-

Contact:

Matt Brereton

020 3040 8514

matt.brereton@chestertons.com