Chief executive of Blenheim Palace John Hoy is joining Bidwells as head of its rural division in Oxford.
Hoy joins as an equity partner and will also be a member of the firm’s main board.
He has been chief executive of the Blenheim Estate in Oxfordshire for the past 14 years and is also a member of the VisitEngland advisory board.
His previous roles include commercial project manager with the National Museums of Science and Industry, general manager of Madame Tussauds in London, and head of operations and retail at Warwick Castle.
He has also worked on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex and the Knebworth Estate in Hertfordshire.
Bidwells rural division is 100-strong and manages thousands of square miles of the UK’s countryside and coastline.
In 2014, Bidwells completed the UK’s largest ever agri-investment deal when it acquired the Co-Operative Group’s farm business for the Wellcome Trust for £249m.
Patrick McMahon, senior partner at Bidwells, said: “John’s appointment is a game changer for Bidwells. Now more than ever, our clients in the rural sector are looking to up their game by diversifying to unlock the full potential from their assets.
“John has presided over significant growth during his time at Blenheim and we are thrilled to be able to offer his insight and experience to help others share a bit of that magic.”
Hoy said: “It was always going to take something very special to prise me away from Blenheim Palace so I am very excited to be joining the team at Bidwells. They have a very successful heritage that has been built over many years and some fantastic clients have been part of that journey. It feels like a good fit.
“The rural sector has experienced challenges of late and Brexit adds further complication and threat, but all of these challenges can be converted into real opportunities if we work creatively with our clients and explore the future options with an open mind.”
Hoy will take up his new position at Bidwells in January.
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