Brian Bickell

Chief Executive, Shaftesbury PLC

 Brian qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1976.  He joined Shaftesbury when it was formed in 1986, and was Finance Director from the date of its float on the London Stock Exchange in 1987.  He became Chief Executive in 2011.

 Starting with £10 million of private capital in 1986, Shaftesbury now has a market capitalisation of c. £2.5 billion.  It has assembled a portfolio of 14 acres of freeholds in the West End, comprising c. 600 buildings.  Its ownership includes 1 million sq.ft of shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs.

 Brian has featured in the FT-sponsored Outstanding list of LGBT business leaders, and is a Stonewall Ambassador.  He is a board member of Freehold, the LGBT property professionals group, which in its four year life, has built up a membership of over 800.