WHEN Ian Coull joined Slough Estates last year he came with a strong retail pedigree, having most recently been property director at J Sainsbury, the supermarket group.
But yesterday he turned his back on the sector as he delivered a deal with Land Securities Group, under which the property giant will swap most of its industrial property portfolio for Slough Estates’ retail portfolio.
Mr Coull spent 15 years at Sainsbury, where he was responsible for real estate matters, and retains a non-executive directorship of House of Fraser, the department stores group. Before joining Sainsbury he was a director of Texas Homecare, the former do-it-yourself retailer. He has held management roles at Ladbrokes, the leisure group, and Cavenham Foods.
Mr Coull, 54, was born and raised in Perth. He trained as a chartered surveyor with the College of Estate Management and became a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1984.
He is married with a son and two daughters and is a keen sports fan. He enjoys rugby and golf, as well as reading and travel.