New man at the top…

The Heritage Foundation Board has named the successor to Stuart Kenny, who retires after 15 years at the end of June.

John Lewis, 44, will take over the reins as the Foundation’s Chief Executive and will be looking to re-locate from his present home in Milton Keynes, nearer to the world’s first Garden City, in due course.

John is currently Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Partnership which was created in 2004 and is responsible for the city’s growth, development and investment. It is a committee of the Homes and Communities Agency, the single housing and regeneration agency for England.

In fact, John is also acting Director of New Ventures and Partnerships at the HCA which includes responsibility for the Agency’s national property and regeneration programme.

He began his career as a property professional, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1993, but his interest in the broader aspects of regeneration developed when he joined English Partnerships in 1998. John completed an MA in Urban Regeneration in 2001.  

John joined the Milton Keynes Development Corporation in 1991, which later became the Commission for the New Towns. He then joined international Property Consultant DTZ, becoming an Associate Director in 1996 before his move to English Partnerships.

He also holds a Directorship of Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery Company.

John is married with two children and lists Running (London Marathon 2006), Sailing, Junior Football as his hobbies.

Colin Chatfield, the Foundation’s Chairman, said of the appointment: “The Heritage Foundation Trustees are delighted that after an extensive search and selection process, John has accepted to become our new Chief Executive Officer.

“John already has a wealth of business experience and in many of his roles has worked very closely with the wider community. He will no doubt use this expertise to bring forward his own ideas and will play a major part in building on the success that the Foundation has achieved over the last 15 years and more. The Foundation is entering into an exciting and challenging new era.”

John is expected to take up his post on August 9.