Trafalgar Property Group has appointed hydroponics and vertical farm expert Dr Paul Challinor to its board as an executive director.
Challinor, whose appointment has been in negotiation for some time, is a renowned early-stage pioneer who specialises in the construction and management of indoor hydroponic vertical farming facilities.
Together with Trafalgar CFO Gary Thorneycroft, he was a co-founder of Jones Food Company, which owned and operated, at the time, one of the largest vertical farms in Europe. A majority stake in JFC was subsequently sold to Ocado in 2019.
Trafalgar, which started as a housebuilding business, has been gradually moving into vertical farming.
Trafalgar managing director Paul Treadaway said: “We view Paul’s appointment as the key step in the development of Trafalgar’s long-planned hydroponic division as he is a UK pioneer in this high-growth market.”
Challinor will help Trafalgar to reinvigorate its hydroponics strategy. His experience and expertise together with that of Thorneycroft, “will greatly assist Trafalgar in realising its aspirations to design, fit out, build and where appropriate even operate hydroponic assets”, Treadaway added.
To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews
