The new appointments reflect an investment in Mace’s development capabilities as it refreshes its business strategy to focus on town centre regeneration, estate rationalisation and partnerships, whilst adopting ambitious new net zero carbon development targets.
Kevin has worked for Mace since 2004, and over the past 17 years he has played a key role in the expansion of Mace’s development activities. This has included the delivery of Greenwich Square, a 686 home and mixed-use scheme on public land delivering 50% affordable homes; as well as the delivery of Highpoint, a 45-storey residential tower in south London. Most recently he led the Stevenage SG1 scheme, a partnership with Stevenage Borough Council that will regenerate the town centre. Kevin will be accountable to the Group’s Development Board and Richard Bienfait, Mace’s Chief Financial Officer.
Mace is also pleased to announce the appointment of Kirsten White as the Financial Director for the development business
This is a new position and will be key to securing development financing for Stevenage and a number of other major development projects in the pipeline.
Kirsten joins Mace from Lendlease, where she has played a critical role as the Commercial and Finance Director for Elephant Park; a £2.5bn regeneration programme delivering thousands of new homes alongside a diverse range of retailers and restaurants in partnership with Southwark Council within Zone One of central London.
Kirsten led the financial strategy and governance on Elephant Park, including securing significant investment into the development
Prior to joining Lendlease Kirsten spent 12 years working for Shell in the UK, Australia and the Netherlands.
The Mace Develop business manages more than £2bn of development assets, and over the last five years has delivered a number of major mixed-use, residential, student accommodation and commercial schemes across the United Kingdom. These include the transformation of Stevenage Town Centre, a £500m project that will create more than 1,800 new homes and repurpose the heart of the town over the next 10 years.
Mark Reynolds, Group Chief Executive, said:
“Our new business strategy – due to launch later in February – will begin the next stage of our journey in the development market. Building on our achievement of becoming a net zero carbon business in 2020, we want to become an industry leader in the sustainable development; working with our clients and partners to redefine the boundaries of ambition.
“Kevin, Kirsten and the Develop leadership team are perfectly positioned to take us on this journey, and I’m excited to work closely with them and our partners over the coming months as we implement our strategy across the Group.”
Kevin Cowin, Mace’s Managing Director for Develop, said:
“The Mace Develop team have delivered some exceptional schemes over the past few years, and I’m delighted to be asked to lead such an experienced and capable team at such an important time in a rapidly changing world. We have a strong development pipeline to deliver the homes, mixed-use communities, and places and spaces our towns and cities urgently need, and with zero-carbon, digital connectivity and social purpose at the heart of our future investments.
Kirsten White, Mace’s new Finance Director for Develop, said:
“I am thrilled to be joining Mace at such an exciting time. Across the sector there is an urgent need to build the homes and places that people need; while tackling some of the huge challenges we face addressing climate change and creating social value in a post-COVID world. I’m looking forward to working with the development team – and the wider Mace business – to deliver real change over the next few years.”
