Maximus, the Worcestershire-based property and investment company, has appointed Roger Hingley FRICS as Non-Executive Chairman following the untimely death of founder Dick Hickton.
Previously managing director of Littlewoods Properties, Mr Hingley has a strong track record in property investment and development after formally being responsible for a property portfolio totalling £750million while overseeing the company’s sales, acquisitions, investment and development work.
In the last five years he has specialised in the development of shopping centres and completed retail developments approaching £200million and disposals of £250million.
He was also involved in the establishment of Maximus in 2001 alongside Mr Hickton.
The appointment has been made after Mr Hickton died suddenly last month. Mr Hickton was one of the best known property personalities in the region having also founded Barberry Properties as well as Maximus and had a long-standing business relationship with Roy Richardson and his late twin Don.
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Jones, Maximus’ managing director, said: “Roger brings a wealth of experience to the role and has a major part to play in guiding Maximus through the today’s challenging economic conditions and into a new era.”
Roger Hingley added: “Maximus is a strong business with an established, talented senior management team.
“It has a diverse property and investment portfolio, which even in the current economic climate is continuing to yield results.
“Lettings at our award-winning 40,000 sq ft Wildwood Triangle office development, between J6 and J7 of the M5 in Worcester are continuing to buck the market trend and it is one of the only office schemes in Worcestershire to achieve lettings in the last quarter.
“Despite the current economic downturn, there are excellent opportunities out in the marketplace and we are very well placed to capitalise on them and build on our strong performance of recent years. I am delighted to be joining such a strong team focused on delivering excellent returns on its property portfolio.”
As well as Wildwood Triangle, Maximus is also the owner and developer of a 230-acre site in Clay Cross, Derbyshire.
This strategically important regeneration scheme will deliver up to 950 new homes and significant employment opportunities to the town.
