Dallas-based Lincoln Property Company has promoted Alex Aitchison to managing director for its UK operations, as it plans a major expansion.
Lincoln has committed £1.4bn to the UK real estate market since its entry in June 2018, but now plans to expand its portfolio of office, BTR, and industrial and data centre assets across the country. It has already assembled a pipeline of several large development projects, as well as targeted investment opportunities.
Aitchison was previously Lincoln’s UK director of development, overseeing the company’s major projects including its £850m mixed-use development at Station Hill in Reading. The scheme will provide more than 1,300 homes, 625,000 sq ft of sustainable office space, and 95,000 sq ft of retail and leisure.
He will now lead the team to identify new investment and development projects for Lincoln across the UK, as well as the ongoing management of the existing portfolio.
As part of its expansion, Lincoln is also looking to target more alternative assets in addition to the mainstream sectors. It wants to grow its presence in the data centre market in the UK and Europe after its specialized data centre division, Lincoln Rackhouse, acquired a 145,000 sq ft data centre in Camberley, Surrey in 2020. It also wants to use its experience and expertise in the US to invest in assets such as film studios and life sciences.
Troy Javaher, head of Europe and UK, 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.”
Aitchison added: “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.”
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