James Lenton will join the company as executive director on September 16 and will start his new role as chief financial officer on October 1.

Lenton - a chartered accountant – has held various finance roles and previously worked as chief financial officer at investment firm AIG, deputy chief financial officer for EMEA and prior to that was appointed partner at Ernest & Young in 2006.

Lenton succeeds the current chief financial officer and managing director of Premium Outlets – which accounts for 27% of Hammerson’s property portfolio - Timon Drakesmith.