Derwent London has appointed Jonathan Murphy as chief executive and executive director of the board, with effect from 1 September 2026.
Murphy most recently served as chief executive officer of FTSE 250 healthcare property REIT Assura between February 2017 and September 2025, having previously held the role of finance director since January 2013.
He succeeds Paul Williams who announced his intention to retire as chief executive in January this year. Williams will remain as chief executive until 1 September 2026, at which point he will step down from the board before leaving the business on 22 January 2027, supporting an orderly transition.
Mark Breuer, chairman of Derwent London, said: “We are delighted to appoint Jonathan as Derwent London’s next chief executive. He brings a strong combination of listed real estate leadership, operational discipline and capital markets expertise, with a proven track record of responsible value creation. Alongside our talented executive team, he will provide strong leadership as we continue to recycle capital through disposals and position the business to deliver earnings growth and long-term returns for shareholders.”
Murphy added: “I am excited to be joining Derwent London as chief executive. The group has a distinctive culture and brand, impressive property expertise, and a well-positioned portfolio which presents many opportunities to drive returns. I look forward to working with the board and the wider team to build on these strengths and further optimise the business at this important time for the group.”
