Workspace Group PLC (WKP), London's leading owner and operator of flexible workspace, has announced the appointment of Julian Stocks as a Non-Executive Director, effective 1 January 2027. Stocks brings over 38 years of London real estate experience, most recently as a Proprietary Partner and Head of Professional Services at Knight Frank. The appointment follows a formal selection process conducted by the Nominations Committee with the assistance of external consultants, and Stocks will join that committee upon taking up his role.

Key Points

  • Workspace Group PLC (WKP), a FTSE 250-listed Real Estate Investment Trust managing 3.7 million sq. ft. of flexible workspace across 50+ London locations
  • Julian Stocks appointed as Non-Executive Director, effective 1 January 2027, joining the Nominations Committee
  • Stocks will retire from Knight Frank on 31 March 2027; his managerial responsibility over Knight Frank's valuation business ends 31 December 2026
  • Investors should watch how Stocks' asset management and transactions expertise supports Workspace's portfolio strategy across London

Julian Stocks Joins Workspace Board With 38 Years of London Real Estate Experience

Julian Stocks is currently a Proprietary Partner and Head of Professional Services at Knight Frank, where he sits on the Commercial Board and holds managerial responsibility for its Property Asset Management business — covering a number of central London estates — and its Valuation & Advisory business. He joined Knight Frank in 2016, having previously served as Managing Director of Tishman Speyer's UK business and Senior Partner for Deloitte Real Estate. He began his career at Jones Lang LaSalle, where he led its English Capital Markets businesses and served on the English board with a focus on London office market investment.

Independence Confirmed Despite Knight Frank's Existing Valuation Role for Workspace Group

The announcement acknowledges that Knight Frank acts as one of Workspace Group's external property valuers, a relationship that required the Board to assess Stocks' independence carefully. The company states that Stocks has never participated in any valuation work or related discussions concerning any valuation of Workspace's property portfolio. His managerial responsibility for Knight Frank's valuation business will formally cease on 31 December 2026, the day before his directorship begins. The Board has confirmed it is satisfied that Stocks qualifies as independent under the UK Corporate Governance Code, and the appointment was made pursuant to UKLR 6.4.6.

Workspace's London Flexible Workspace Portfolio Provides Context for the Board Strengthening

Workspace Group, established in 1987 and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1993, currently manages 3.7 million sq. ft. of sustainable flexible workspace across more than 50 locations in London and the South East. The REIT provides workspace to nearly 4,000 businesses, offering flexible leasing structures that allow occupiers to scale up or down within its portfolio. Chairman Duncan Owen stated that Stocks' real estate transactions and asset management experience are "important to delivering on our strategy" and that his skills "complement our existing Board" — the company did not disclose further strategic targets in this announcement.