Member Article

New ambassador for Stoneleigh Park

One of the most experienced names in farming has returned to Stoneleigh Park to help spearhead its future as a centre for agricultural excellence.

Denis Chamberlain, former CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), has been appointed ambassador of the Warwickshire estate by LaSalle Investment Management to help with its transformation into a science park.

LaSalle took responsibility for Stoneleigh Park in December 2010 under a 150-year lease from RASE in a deal which secured a major capital investment programme to revitalise the site as an internationally-renowned centre for agriculture, rural business, science and innovation.

Chamberlain is a widely-experienced manager and director with more than 45 years’ experience in the agricultural, food and countryside sectors.

He is a former director of marketing and communications at RASE and has had a distinguished career in journalism and public relations, having been editor of Farmers Weekly and running his own marketing and PR business for more than 20 years.

He was awarded the MBE for services to British agriculture in 2004.

Chamberlain was called out of semi-retirement to head up RASE in 2011, and to find a full-time CEO. He subsequently oversaw the appointment of David Gardner.

Chamberlain said: “Stoneleigh Park has always had great potential and LaSalle’s plans will see that realised.

“I totally share its vision for the future of Stoneleigh. It has already made some serious progress with the acceptance of the masterplan, improvements on site and the development of new buildings already underway.

“I am delighted to be involved here again and will do anything I can to help take the development forward.”

He will help raise the profile of LaSalle’s investment in six science and technology parks in the UK which have been brought together as the Business Environments for Science and Technology (BEST) Network.

With his vast experience, Chamberlain will have a particular focus on the agricultural and food specialisations within BEST Network at Stoneleigh Park and Kent Science Park.

Colin Hooper, Estates Director at Stoneleigh Park, said: “Denis is a hugely respected figure in the agricultural world and has a vast knowledge of Stoneleigh Park. He is a major asset to the team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Pete Squires .