Our team are operators at heart, each having a proven track record of delivering operational and commercial excellence.
Raymond Linch - Chief Executive Officer
Raymond has been involved in markets his whole life. He has an innate understanding of the industry, its people and has a knack of knowing how to untap site potential.
He worked in France for 7 years, specialising in designing fresh food departments in markets and supermarkets in Spain, Portugal, France and Greece.
He has been involved in more than 250 market developments throughout the UK and Europe, some of which have been truly iconic and ground-breaking.
With a passion for localism, independent trade and authenticity, Raymond has dedicated his entire working life to bettering the opportunities of those who work in the industry and to help ensure communities enjoy the very best that markets and food halls can offer.
Through the market development projects Raymond has led on, he was at the forefront of change. He revolutionised the way that markets were designed, taking a shopper led design approach rather than the historic view of maximising lettable space. Raymond has probably designed and specified more markets and food halls than anyone over the last 30 years or so.
Although starting his career designing and specifying market developments, his time is now mostly spent refining long-term business plans ensuring successful post-development viability.
Our management team have been involved in more market and food hall projects across the country and in Europe than any other team.
James Wrigley – Chief Operating Officer
James has worked in the retail, leisure and hospitality industry for the last 19 years with experience of managing multiple venues, traders and working in partnership with key stakeholders such as landlords, property developers and councils.
James has extensive experience of operating as an independent business.
He has operated numerous placemaking venues, has also managed, restructured and remodelled Market Halls with annual sales of up to £3.5 million per/year. He has turned businesses into profitability, improved training and staffing levels, integrated effective events programming, and worked with independent food and retail traders on a daily basis to manage and support.
James has worked with numerous property developers and local councils to deliver meaningful community and hospitality projects, which are all central elements within wider town masterplan developments.
We create environments where independent businesses can thrive while delivering a commercially sound operational platform.
Chris Phillips - Chairman
Chris has a lifetime experience in International corporate finance and has held the most senior positions with Places for People, London and Newcastle, Colliers CRE, Lombard Odier, Prudential Bache, TriplePoint Social Housing and Market Asset Management.
He is currently Chairman of London & Newcastle, Non-Executive Chairman of Places for People, which has gross assets of £3.1bn and profits of circa £44m, with over 150,000 properties and 1,500 employees.
Formerly, Chris was the first Managing Director of Colliers CapitalUK Ltd, the property fund management business of Colliers CRE, from 1998 to 2005. Previously, Chris was also a director of leading private Swiss Bank Lombard Odier, where he specialised in International Corporate Finance. Prior to this he was Managing Director of Prudential Bache’s UK equities and bond business.
Chris currently holds a number of non-Executive Directorships with companies listed in the UK and Europe, particularly specialising in property-focused investment vehicles such as Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc which listed on the London Stock Exchange in August 2017.
