Victoria Financial Visionaries by Show Media Ltd

Contents Introducing the forward-thinking financial firms, fashion brands and foodie destinations making an investment in SW1

02 A NE W FIN A N C I A L H U B

The Telegraph’s Group Business Editor Ben Wright on how SW1 is luring global banks and institutions to London’s fast-growing new financial hub 06 A V IS I O N A RY C H O I C E

Kaela Fenn-Smith, Head of Commercial at Land Securities, explains how its developments are meeting the needs of the 21st-century finance sector 08 V I C TO RI A V IS I O N A RIES

Meet three of the ever-increasing cohort of finance-industry leaders who have designated the district their new HQ 14 PA S T & F U T U RE

A new-look Victoria is being built on a rich seam of history and a foundation of innovation, says architecture aficionado Jonathan Bell 20 H OSPI TA L I T Y & FO O D

Restaurant Editor Stefan Chomka explores the burgeoning foodie quarter that is drawing some of the industry’s most dynamic chefs 24 G A L L ERIES & T HE V ISUA L A RTS

The Times’ Nancy Durrant predicts a bright future for public art in Victoria, with works by Grayson Perry, Stuart Haygarth and Conrad Shawcross 26 FA SHI O N & C RE AT I V I T Y

Katie Baron, trend forecaster, discovers the stellar style brands that have established themselves in SW1, including Bally, Belstaff and Burberry 30 PHIL A N T HRO P Y & C H A N G E

Journalist James Medd reports on the ways in which Land Securities’ investment in Victoria is informed by the commitment to community that is at its very core

WORDS BEN WRIGHT

ILLUSTR ATION A LE X M AT HERS

G r o u p B u s i n e s s E d i t o r a t T h e Te l e g r a p h

Victoria : A new f inancial hub

S W1 i s t h e d e s t i n a t i o n o f c h o i c e f o r f o r w a r d - t h i n k i n g financial fir ms, with emigrés from Mayfair keen to capitalise on its f lexible and resilient of fice space, and its location at the very heart of L ondon

FIN A N C I A L O C C U PIERS 01: 3i 02: ADVENT INTERNATIONAL 03: ALBOURNE PARTNERS

A creaky townhouse with matching infrastructure may cut it for a 10-person start-up making its way in the world, but a larger company that sells its services to institutional investors can’t afford to suffer power failures or forego decent facilities. That’s why, for many firms, the future is Victorian. Call it location arbitrage, if you will – a smart trade. The UK’s capital is a study in perpetual motion and few industries are better at reinvention than the one that makes the world’s money go round. So it is hardly surprising that the defining characteristic of the symbiotic relationship between London and finance is f lux. Describing the UK financial industry as ‘the City’ has long been geographically inaccurate, but that metonymy is starting to feel archaic. The confines of the Square VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

Mile were breached decades ago. At first, Canary Wharf merely housed the overspill, but now there are more bankers working on the concrete atoll in East London than there are around the Bank of England. And, when the hedge-fund industry sprang into life at the end of the last century, it did so in the West End. Indeed, so many firms sought legitimacy in Mayfair addresses and Georgian townhouses that Curzon Street became known as Hedge Fund Alley. You might have thought the 2008 financial crisis would have slowed the spread. Far from it. The big banks are looking even further afield in the search for more room and better-value space – JP Morgan, for example, set up back-office operations in Bournemouth. And the maturing hedge-fund industry, having 02

04: AMERICAN EXPRESS 05: BLUECREST CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 06: CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES 07: CAPITAL GROUP 08: CDC GROUP 09: DEUTSCHE BANK 10: EXPERIAN 11: FIRST RESERVE 12: GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS 13: JUPITER ASSET MANAGEMENT 14: KLESCH 15: MEDIOBANCA 16: MIRABAUD SECURITIES 17: MONEYCORP 18: OAKTREE 19: PIONEER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 20: POLAR CAPITAL 21: RUFFER 22: WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT 23: WORLDREMIT

Buckingham Palace

03 01

16 PALACE STREET

16 23 13

05 19

62 BUCKINGHAM GATE

02 THE ZIG ZAG BUILDING

PORTLAND HOUSE

11 NOVA, VICTORIA

22 08

12 04

CARDINAL PLACE 123 VICTORIA STREET

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

265,000 square foot of retail space

hotels, of

which four are five-star

Underground lines

theatres in Victoria, with St. James Theatre the first to open

in 30 years

minutes to Gatwick (ever y 15 minutes)

new restaurants

98 acres of Royal Parks VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

graduated from serving rich individuals to managing money for institutional clients such as pension schemes, is outgrowing W1. Many of these concerns, along with their private-equity cousins and more traditional asset managers, have found a new home in Victoria. Among the bigger firms with offices in the area are the private-equity firm 3i and fund manager Jupiter Asset Management. Private-equity adviser Advent and global executivesearch firm Egon Zehnder have committed to office space at Nova, Victoria ahead of its completion, and Deutsche Bank is moving into The Zig Zag Building in early 2017. This is not uncharted territory. The vast newsroom of The Telegraph, above platforms 15 to 19 of Victoria station, used to be the trading f loor of Salomon Brothers. Michael Lewis worked here as a bond salesman before quitting to become one of the finest financial writers of his

Draw a line between Heathrow and City Airpor t, bisect it with another running nor th from Gatwick, and the intersection is close to Victoria generation, and it serves as the setting for some of the scenes in his book, Liar’s Poker. While a Mayfair address might sound impressive, it can’t really compare with having the Queen as a neighbour or being able to stroll through St James’s Park to the Houses of Parliament. The recent

regeneration of the area means there are plenty of pubs and bars in which to grab a quick drink after work. The wide variety of restaurants caters for those rare financial folk still intrepid enough to venture beyond their office for lunch. More important still are SW1’s transport links. Bisect the line between Heathrow and London City Airport with another running north from Gatwick and the resultant intersection hovers close to Victoria. The station disgorges commuters from the broker belt in the South East and, for those not yet tired of life, all points of the capital’s compass are served by the Victoria, District and Circle lines. London became the world’s main financial centre because it straddles the world’s time zones, allowing early risers to trade the Asian markets and night owls to keep an eye on the US. Victoria’s location maximises that advantage.

invested in the upgrade of Victoria station

£700m

a cres of public realm and green space across Land Securities’ por tfolio in Victoria 05

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS KAELA FENN-SMITH

ILLUSTR ATION RELAJAELCOCO

Head of Commercial at Land Securities

Victoria : A visionar y choice I n d u st r y l e a d e r s a r e c h o osi n g SW1 fo r it s i nt e l l i ge ntly d e si g n e d b u il d i n gs , h i gh ly e n g i n e e r e d o f f i c e sp a c e , fa st - e x p a n d i n g f o o d q u a r t e r, a n d u n r i v a l l e d a n d e v e r - e v o l v i n g t r a n s p o r t l i n k s . In the pages that follow, we profile three of them

Over the next few pages, we introduce you

substation in the West End in 20 years, and

to a few of the brightest lights of the finance

designed crucial power resiliencies into all

sector who have chosen Victoria as a base for

of our office developments as standard.

their businesses. Jupiter Asset Management

Our buildings have been constructed

HR Director Gillian van Maaren, WorldRemit

in such a way as to enhance the comfort of

founder Ismail Ahmed and Co-Director of

workers and facilitate collaboration. They

Albourne Village Sam Lewis are among those

have spacious, uninterrupted floor plates

drawn to the hub. Land Securities has been

and spectacular access to daylight. We

instrumental in the recent development of

understand how important it is to a business

Victoria, curating a dynamic and flourishing

that its staff enjoy optimum health and

restaurant, fashion and art scene. Add to this

well-being, and recognise that a building is

superb transport connections and highly

integral to attracting and retaining talent.

engineered buildings, and it’s easy to see

At Land Securities, we are committed to

why so many businesses are moving here.

sustainable operations, with all our buildings

Over the past decade, many small

being landfill-neutral and powered by green

companies that grew out of prime brokerage

energy. Partnering with local charities, we

firms matured into substantial enterprises.

aim to strengthen the Victoria community,

Where once they might have been based in

enabling disadvantaged people to support

a West End townhouse, they now need space

themselves and helping hundreds find work.

and infrastructure fit for the 21st century.

As London grows, we are really proud to

Nonetheless, London’s energy reserves will

be investing in one of its most vibrant, diverse

be pushed to the limit in the near future,

and accessible areas, establishing Victoria as a

which is why we have built the first power

key destination for international commerce.

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

W E L L- B E I N G

INFR ASTRUCTURE

PUBLIC RE ALM

Comfort, light and fresh air all encourage productivity. In our developments, the well-being of our customers is at the heart of every detail.

World-leading firms demand space that is technically resilient and highly efficient to ensure business continuity. We also make ours flexible, so it can be adapted to your firm’s needs.

Enriched workplaces nurture from the inside out. We enhance the public realm around our buildings to provide employees with space to think and refresh.

CONCIERGE SERVICES

C YC L E S TAT I O N S

AMENITIES

A hotel-style concierge in every building offers our customers and their guests a helping hand, from taxis and dry-cleaning to travel, event and restaurant reservations, plus VIP services.

The number of people who cycle to work is set to double by 2020. We provide hundreds of dedicated bicycle spaces with cycle maintenance stations in all of our buildings.

Facilities matter – we know that. With spacious showers, a towel service, lockers and high-quality changing facilities, our buildings make everyone feel that they can exercise during the work day.

PL ACEMAKING Successful business starts by providing a place that attracts talent. We have equipped our buildings – and Victoria – with all that your people need to excel.

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: JUPITER ASSET MANAGEMENT

PH OTO G R A PH Y: IVAN JONES

What is your professional background and

And it has lots of natural light, which is really

what does your role as HR Director entail?

important, given how much time we spend

I’ve been in HR for about 18 years and love

here, and there are beautiful views across

the profession. I have worked in both South

the park. We’ve created several breakout

Africa and the UK, which has been a great

areas and places where staff can meet, both

grounding for working with different people

formally and informally. The reaction has

and different cultures. I see my job as

been amazing: people have been using those

looking after the culture of the organisation

spaces from day one. It’s changed the way

and the welfare of employees – it’s such

we work in such a positive way.

an important aspect of what we do in a talent-driven organisation.

How would you say the typical office environment has evolved in recent years?

Jupiter moved to The Zig Zag Building last

We’ve seen a drive in creating alternative

December. Why did you choose Victoria?

places in which people can work. This has

Well, we actually asked our staff where

encouraged them to change their working

they thought we should move to. Relocating

practices for the better, supporting remote

offices can be difficult, so you need to

working and engagement with colleagues

consult with people and ensure they’re part

in other jurisdictions. Technology has also

of the decision. Victoria is a really central

taken a big leap forward. At Jupiter, we have

hub and it’s not very far from where we were

these wonderful desks where you press a

before, so we know it well. We deliberately

button and the desk rises up so you can

didn’t go to a skyscraper in the City or a

stand and work. It’s very good for you – we’re

posh address in Mayfair – it just wouldn’t

not designed to sit down all day; there’s been

be Jupiter. We really like Victoria and the

a lot of research into that.

whole regeneration of the area. What’s the most important thing you’ve Where do you like to go out for lunch or

learnt in your career?

drinks in the area?

People always talk about getting the balance

I love the variety and choice here. I’m a real

right and, as a mother, that’s important to me.

foodie, so I like places such as Leon, where

I think the best piece of advice I’ve received

you can grab something healthy, and the

is to work smarter, not harder. That’s our

food stalls at Strutton Ground. Then there

mantra here at Jupiter. We have an initiative

are more formal places like the Cinnamon

called Corporate Fitness that underpins

Club or the new M Restaurant next door.

our growth strategy. Essentially, it means

There’s something for everyone.

that, as we grow, we need to do it in a way that’s faster, better and more agile than

And what was the appeal of The Zig Zag

before. For example, we’re trying to get

Building itself?

people to have slightly shorter meetings

For one thing, Jupiter’s offices have an SKA

or a quick chat if a meeting isn’t necessary.

Gold rating, which is all about sustainability

It’s about flexibility and efficiency, while

and being environmentally friendly, so that

creating a positive environment in which

very much matches our corporate values.

people want to work.

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

Gillian van Maaren: HR Director J u p i t e r â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s h e a d o f H R e x p l a i n s t h e r e a s o n s t h e a s s e t management group chose to relocate to Victoria , and the importance of working smarter, not harder

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: WORLDREMIT

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

Ismail A hmed : Chief Executive Officer T h e fo u n d e r of a p i o n e e r i ng o nl i n e - r e m it t a n c e se r v i c e e xpl a i n s h o w it c a m e a b o ut a n d why h e c h ose Vi ct o r i a a s th e h e a d qu a r t e rs fo r h i s fa st - g r o w i ng b u si n e ss

Could you explain the concept of WorldRemit?

It’s expensive, slow and inconvenient, and it doesn’t

WorldRemit is a money-transfer service that helps

make sense. We move money transfers online and on

migrants in more than 55 countries send money home

to mobiles. Just as Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook

to around 125 destinations. Customers can download

have transformed the way we communicate with one

our app and send remittances to their friends and family

another, WorldRemit makes the process of transferring

with just a few taps. We’re now processing more than

money as easy as sending an instant message.

300,000 remittances every month. So what would you say is the most visionary aspect Why have you decided to move your HQ to Victoria?

of WorldRemit?

We’ve grown from around 40 people at the start of 2014

We’re pioneering mobile-to-mobile remittances. You

to nearly 200, most of whom are based in London. We

can send money direct from the WorldRemit app to

wanted to move to a beautiful, modern office space in

Mobile Money wallets in countries around the world.

a more central location and Victoria fitted the bill.

We’ve partnered with telecoms operators across Africa, Asia and the Pacific so millions of people can

And what are the advantages for financial firms such

now receive remittances direct to their mobiles.

as WorldRemit being based in an area such as Victoria? It has great transport links and some really vibrant shops

And what are the advantages of being a purely

and restaurants. It’s fast becoming one of the best

digital business?

destinations in London for a growing business.

Unfortunately, the remittance sector has suffered a number of high-profile fraud and money-laundering

You’ve worked in remittance for over 20 years.

scandals in recent years. As an online-only business,

When did you decide to set up your own company?

we don’t accept cash, which reduces the risk of

In the mid 2000s, I was Chief Compliance Officer at

fraud, and we can analyse countless data points to

the United Nations East Africa Remittance Programme.

monitor and safeguard against suspicious activity.

While working there, I experienced first-hand some of the inefficiencies and fraud that is associated with the

What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt during

money-transfer industry. I had a vision for an online-only

the course of your career?

remittance service that would be convenient, quick

Always look critically at what you’re doing. We’ve

and secure. In 2008, I enrolled at the London Business

benefited a lot from meeting people who were very

School to do my MBA and started to work on WorldRemit.

critical about our work. That enabled us to address issues and improve our service.

You’ve said the business of sending money abroad ‘has remained stuck in the past’, compared to other

Do you consider London to be a global financial capital?

global communication systems. In what way?

London is the world’s global financial centre, so, for our

It’s incredible how, in 2016, the vast majority of money

business, it was the ideal choice. Being based here,

transfers are still sent offline. Most people still travel

you can attract amazing talent in both tech and financial

to money-transfer agents in order to send money

services, you have the advantage of sitting across the

abroad. Their recipients – in Africa or Asia, for example

major time zones, and you have regulators who really

- then travel to another agent location to pick up money.

understand financial services.

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: ALBOURNE VILLAGE

Sam Lewis : Co-Director S W1 o f fe r s st at e - of - th e - a r t w o rk sp a c e s a n d a c e ntr a l l o c at i o n w h i l e r e m a i n i n g u n p r e t e n t i o u s , says a f i n a n c i e r a t t h e c o r e o f t h e i n v e st m e n t c o m m u n it y

What is Albourne’s specialist area of

easily commutable for our colleagues, as

financial expertise?

the transport is fantastic and we are well

Ours is the number-one company in the

connected to both central London and outer

world when it comes to advising investors

parts of the city. There’s also a great choice

thinking of allocating to fund managers in

of restaurants and shops – we particularly

alternative investments, such as hedge

love the food market at Cardinal Place, as

funds, private equity and real asset.

it has so much character and personality.

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

And why was Albourne Village set up as an

So what are the advantages for financial

online division of Albourne Partners?

companies such as Albourne Partners being

The company was formed in a small Sussex

based in the heart of SW1?

village called Albourne when the internet was

Geographically, it’s very central. Our clients

just taking off. We’ve always felt that, within

are more likely to be based here, rather than

the bigger world of finance, the hedge-fund

Mayfair, for example, yet Mayfair is only 10

community is like a village, so we thought it

minutes’ walk away. Also, the technology in

needed a virtual presence to capture that

the buildings is incredible, and in finance

spirit and communal feel. Right from the

that matters so much. It’s rare to get such

start, it was created to be entirely free for

high-quality, open-plan space of this scale.

all, with no commercial agenda. It’s a place

where free thinkers can congregate, with

Which is your favourite after-work haunt

information and knowledge as the currency.

in the local area?

St. James Theatre on Palace Street is a

Albourne Partners moved to Palace Street

brilliant place for post-work entertainment.

more than four years ago. What do you like

most about the Victoria area?

If you’re taking a client out to lunch or

For us, it’s simply the perfect location. From

dinner, where do you like to go?

a business perspective, it’s an immaculate

The Goring Hotel on Beeston Place is my

combination of state-of-the-art office space,

favourite dining destination in Victoria,

without the pretentiousness that upsets our

as there’s an abundance of choice at

key client base of institutional investors. In

every price level. You can’t go anywhere

Victoria, you get 10 out of 10 for commercial

that’s more distinctively British or with

pragmatism and outstanding facilities, but

better service. In fact, there’s nothing

it still feels grounded. On a social level, it’s

like it anywhere else in London.

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS: J ON AT H A N B ELL E d i t o r- a t- L a r g e a t W a l l p a p e r *, a n d d e s i g n , architecture and technolog y journalist

Past & Future From the developers who first transformed this former marshland into bricks and mortar to the iconic architecture built in the 19th century, SW1 has long attracted innovators. Now a new generation of artists and designers is taking the tradition forward

Landmark

innovation

transforming

Victoria. Land Securities’ unprecedented

The By zantine-s t yle Wes tmins ter Cathedral, built by John Francis B entley in the late 19 th centur y

peaceful Royal Parks.

£2bn investment into this historic part

Victoria’s most revered landmark is

of London is not only altering the skyline,

almost certainly Westminster Cathedral.

enhancing the public realm and bringing

A striking striped brick and stone edifice

new workers and residents alike to its

with

streets, it is completing a journey that

majestically

began many years before. SW1 has always

its piazza lending the area something of

been home to visionaries – from the

a continental feel. Constructed on the

pioneers who first drained the swamps

foundations of what had been Bridewell

to create this part of the city to the

Prison, it was the work of the architect John

engineers who saw the opportunity to

Francis Bentley. Famously unfinished – its

build one of the world’s most celebrated

decorative, mosaiced interior gives way to

railway stations. Today, the visions belong

a bare vaulted ceiling – the Byzantine-style

to the architects, designers, developers

cathedral and its 273ft-high campanile

and

currently

together form a major landmark that

collaborating to reshape the district into

pinpoints the location of Victoria Street

a major new destination.

within the rest of London.

businesses

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

shopping at Knightsbridge and a plethora of

walk

that

through

are

Victoria

The

soaring

bell

tower,

alongside

post-war

stands

Victoria

Street,

decades

were

not

experience the mix of old and new –

exactly kind to the district’s streetscape.

arguably one of London’s most vital and

The grandeur of Victoria Street was lost

defining

has

to redevelopment, in particular that of

always been distinguished by its distinctive

Westminster City Hall, which turned the

blend of styles and Victoria is no different.

north side of the road into little more than

Stunning new developments are rising fast

a characterless sweep of period glass and

alongside iconic 19th-century buildings –

concrete. Change has brought creativity

and there is still more to come, as these

and opportunity, though. Land Securities’

transformational works create new retail

involvement dates to the turn of this

hearts,

pockets

century, when it set out the first stages of

of art and culture. SW1 has become a

a 20-year masterplan to transform the area.

characteristics.

creative

centres

The

city

and

place of juxtaposition, innovation and

From its initial project, Cardinal Place,

creativity, where the traditional adjoins

in 2006, it went on, with architects Aukett

the contemporary, close to the heart

Fitzroy Robinson, to redevelop 123 Victoria

Street, an idiosyncratic but exemplary

government

Westminster, 14

luxury

CLO CK WISE FROM TOP Nova, Vic toria, which will be home to ALAMY

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new food quar ter; The Zig Zag Building and Kings Gate; the ex terior of Nova, Vic toria, designed by PLP Architec ture

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

CLOCK WISE FROM ABOVE The boutique Curzon Vic toria; 62 Buckingham Gate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a model

ALAMY

of clean-lined modernit y; and the Tate Britain ar t galler y

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

The long-established Apollo Victoria and Victoria Palace have been joined by a new Curzon cinema and the award-winning St. James Theatre

piece of 1970s commercial architecture

This outcrop of faceted glass, which was

home of acclaimed Australian industrial

that has now been given a new lease of life

designer Marc Newson, who is currently

and provides Westminster Cathedral with

dynamic addition to the streetscape when

working with Apple. In 2005, the Telegraph

a contemporary frame.

the first phase is completed this autumn.

Media Group opened its vision of the

The rather banal grid of the original

Nova South and Nova North will be bold new

radically reworked multimedia newsroom

City Hall façade has been substantially

business addresses that incorporate public

on Buckingham Palace Road.

replaced following Land Securities’ total

art and open space into their masterplan.

The area’s media connections go back

office

to 1990, when Channel 4 commissioned

Street. First came Pelli Clarke Pelli’s

space, Nova, Victoria will also include

new high-spec headquarters on Horseferry

62 Buckingham Gate to form a new bookend

170 residential apartments in The Nova

Road from the architect Richard Rogers –

for the new Victoria. A bold wedge of

Building, and will have a dedicated food

it is still one of the most striking examples

Modernist glass, it offers 260,000sq ft of

quarter. The intersection between the two

of modern architecture in Victoria. There

low-energy office space, with generous

new pedestrian paths that run through the

are now also many major fashion brands in

ceiling heights and spectacular views out

site will create a focal point at the heart of

the area, while tech firms, too, have begun

across the triple-height reception area.

The Nova Building, which is flanked by the

establishing a foothold here.

reorganisation of the north side of Victoria

And 62 Buckingham Gate is now joined

Offering

600,000sq

breathtaking glass architecture.

Dining is an integral part of the modern

by two new structures: Kings Gate and

The district’s newest inhabitants will

urban experience, and Victoria is currently

The Zig Zag Building. The former is one of

find themselves living and working in a

attracting a host of new eateries, including

the flagship residential destinations in the

transformed environment. There have been

Ibérica, Jamie’s Italian, and M Restaurant

area, providing 100 high-end apartments

cultural institutions here for centuries

and Wine Store. It will soon boast an entire

and far-reaching vistas, while the latter

– nearby Tate Britain was established by

new food quarter: Nova, Victoria.

offers a mix of office space and retail.

the sugar magnate and philanthropist Sir

The area’s reputation as a centre

Deutsche Bank, Moneycorp and Jupiter

Henry Tate back in 1897 – but Victoria is

of entertainment was cemented by the

Asset Management are already signed up.

also being reshaped by a new generation of

presence of the Art Deco Apollo Victoria

curators, including Land Securities, which

and Victoria Palace theatres, both home to

has brought public art to the area.

long-running and hugely popular West End

The Zig Zag Building is a new breed of office, designed to enhance the workplace

Contemporary art, design and culture

musicals. They have been joined by the new

and

was the motivating force for other early

high-tech boutique Curzon Victoria cinema

a finely crafted interior that features a

Victoria pioneers, including auction house

and the award-winning St. James Theatre,

combination of warm, tactile materials and

Phillips de Pury, which was originally

which opened in 2012.

human-scaled spaces.

and raise morale through public realm, natural

lighting

and

ventilation,

located in a prime spot in the former

Vision has always been at the heart

To the west is the largest element of

Royal Mail sorting offices on Howick Place,

of Victoria, thanks to the impact of major

Land Securities’ jigsaw: Nova, Victoria.

in close proximity to the studio and now

infrastructure decisions taken 150 years

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

The new Victoria is a glittering array of contemporar y structures set alongside historic buildings and garden squares

A C H A N G IN G FAC E SE AT O F P OWER Victoria counts among its prestigious neighbours the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

T R AV EL H U B Victoria station connects passengers to London and beyond, with three Tube lines and an express train to Gatwick Airport. Current remodelling will slash transit time between street, ticket hall and platforms.

G REEN SPAC E

ago. The railway station was first mooted in

enlarged ticket hall and new access points

1857, named after the grand new avenue that

from the north of Victoria Street, and

ran south-west from Westminster Abbey,

ongoing works will dramatically reduce the

and the name of that road, of course, was

transit time between street, ticket hall and

inspired by Queen Victoria. By the time the

line from above ground or below.

station was underway, she had already been on the throne for over 20 years.

Land Securities is also overseeing the creation of new green spaces for Victoria,

St James’s Park is on the northern border of Victoria, and is home to some rather famous pelicans. In the centre of Victoria is the beautiful Vincent Square, which is home to a well-kept cricket ground.

T HE AT RE A ND C INEM A Sit back and enjoy the show – there are no fewer than three theatres and a brand-new cinema in Victoria.

T HE O RIEN T-E X PRES S The world’s most famous luxury train departs from Victoria station.

Her Majesty’s reign defined the capital,

threading an expansive piece of public

the country and, by extension, the world,

realm through the heart of Nova, Victoria.

and was to prove enormously influential

These new landscaped walkways will be in

on the area that bore her name. Victoria

addition to SW1’s already generous outdoor

grew into an early centre for the multitude

space, from the splendour of St James’s

of engineering firms that shaped British

Park to the formality of Vincent Square,

N OVA , V I C TO RI A

industrial power and drove the construction

creating new routes from north to south

of factories and transport networks.

and east to west, making the area much

Offering an impressive 600,000sq ft of office space, Nova, Victoria will also include 170 residential apartments in The Nova Building, as well as 18 new restaurants, cafés and bars, and more than 400 al fresco seats.

Victoria Station also played a major

more navigable on foot.

part in the nation’s history, whether in

The reworked station entrance, the

receiving the wounded from the European

opening of Nova, Victoria and its next

front during the World Wars, or sending

phase will be the culmination of SW1’s latest

London’s children off on the first stage of

and most radical transformation. Driven

their evacuation journeys. In more peaceful

by a vision that blends new urban retail,

times, it was the venue for the globe’s first

office and residential space with existing

rail-air service, the Empire Air Terminal.

culture and history, the district is being

This was the glamorous departure point

transformed into a major London hub for

for those using Imperial Airways to begin

both work and play.

their pioneering trip or embarking on boat-

The new Victoria is a glittering array of

train services to the Continent. Today,

contemporary structures set among new

the station is home to the luxury Venice

public spaces and alongside the elegant

Simplon-Orient-Express train, which offers

mansion blocks, historic buildings, verdant

the grandest rail journey in the world.

garden squares, and shops, offices and

In 1969, the mainline station became

galleries that have evolved over centuries.

one of the key stops on the newly opened

It is a financial centre in the heart of

Victoria Line – then the first new Tube

politics and government, with international

line for half a century. In the modern

connections close at hand, offering some

age, it is a major terminus and one of the

of the finest contemporary real estate and

best connected in London. As part of the

most advanced offices, not to mention

district’s refurbishment, the station is

a rich variety of dining, entertainment,

being transformed, with better access, an

education and cultural opportunities.

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

L A NDS C A PED WA L K WAYS New routes are being created, making the area much more navigable on foot.

CLO CK WISE FROM LEF T Vincent Square; The Vic toria Memorial, which s tands in front of Buckingham

ALAMY

Palace; the lake at St James’s Park

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS: STEFAN CHOMK A Editor of Restaurant magazine

Hospitality & Food

As Victoria’s regeneration continues apace, it is becoming home to a wide range of upcoming, high-profile – and in some cases, debut – restaurants, with fine dining alongside more mainstream concepts. The area, which has a burgeoning and progressive food scene, is fast becoming the capital’s next foodie hub. Perhaps the most significant indication is its ability to attract to its ranks one of London’s most pre-eminent chefs and restaurateurs: Jason Atherton. The Michelin-starred chef, who runs a global restaurant empire, has chosen Nova, Victoria in which to launch his new concept – an Italian restaurant with a focus on fresh pasta. Headed up by Paul Hood, currently at Social Eating House, VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

in Soho, the ambitious project will have a pasta-making room that will allow diners to see their food being created for them. With Adam Handling at Caxton – the residency of the 2013 MasterChef: The Professionals runner-up at Caxton Grill in St. Ermin’s Hotel – already providing a persuasive argument for gourmands to leave the more familiar environs of Soho, Mayfair and Shoreditch and set their sights on the south, Atherton’s entry on to the scene will make the district even more of an appetising prospect. A high-end Spanish restaurant group’s decision to open in The Zig Zag Building perfectly reflects Victoria’s new foodie credentials. Ibérica started life on Great 20

Portland Street, in the West End, and is no ordinary chain, thanks to the pedigree of its multi-Michelin-starred executive head chef Nacho Manzano. He holds an impressive three stars: two at the celebrated Casa Marcial, and another at La Salgar, both in Asturias, north-west Spain. He’s also the man behind the restaurant’s silky hams, creamy black rice with seafood and 30-day-hung organic rib of beef Bilbao style. Ibérica has a delicatessen attached, which is also a key feature of the new Jamie’s Italian that now occupies the ground and first floors of Kings Gate – a jewel in the crown of Jamie Oliver’s successful restaurant group. Oliver’s move to

RO RY DA N I EL /S AU C E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

Stell ar chefs and restaurate urs are f locking to c l a i m t h e i r p l a c e i n V i c t o r i a ’s c u l i n a r y o r b i t , which promises to be heaven for foodies

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: CHEF

Jason Atherton P o l l e n S t r e e t S o c i a l ’s c h e f - p a t r o n knows a thing or two about opening restaurants – and his nex t stop is SW1

ith a clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants across London – including his flagship Mayfair dining

room Pollen Street Social, as well as City Social and Social Eating House, plus many more in places as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai – Jason Atherton is one of the UK’s most successful chefs and restaurateurs. A former protégé of Gordon Ramsay, Atherton has shown how it is possible to run a global dining empire that encompasses a number of styles and cuisines, from the high-end eateries of Mayfair and Singapore to the no-reservation tapas joints of Hong Kong, all the time earning a reputation for producing some of the finest food available anywhere in the world. The chef’s choice of Victoria as the location for his newest concept is a huge endorsement for the area, and a sign he believes it is ready for some truly high-end eating. He has recently opened a restaurant in Sydney, with plans to open another in New York - so Victoria is certainly in fine company. Atherton’s prowess is not just thanks to his ambitious cuisine, but directly attributable to his business model, which has nurtured and established cheffing talent across the capital and led to the creation of some of London’s most highly respected restaurants. Few chefs have managed to create a gastronomical dominion of such calibre, and he continues to push the boundaries, supporting his ambitious kitchen and front-of-house teams, ensuring his group continues to lead the way in the field. Jason Atherton is bringing a casual Italian eatery to Nova, Victoria – and his appointment of Paul Hood as chef makes clear his ambition for his new venture to

Jason Ather ton’s ambition is for his new Victoria venture to become one of London’s top dining destinations

become one of London’s top dining destinations. Hood is one of the most trusted of Atherton’s team, having helped the chef-patron launch Pollen Street Social in Mayfair and then Social Eating House in Soho, which was granted a Michelin star within its first year. Similarly big things are expected in SW1. 21

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

LEF T The new Ibérica restaurant at The Zig Zag Building, Vic toria

For those with an appetite for internationally flavoured fare, there’s a veritable feast on offer in Victoria

Victoria is something of a homecoming: he earned his apron stripes in the 1990s at the nearby Westminster Kingsway College – an esteemed establishment that still leads the way in training the young and ambitious chefs of the future. Victoria is drawing other prestigious names too. With a portfolio that already includes Angler, Bluebird and Quaglino’s, D&D London is set to rent 10,000sq ft of space in Nova, Victoria. It joins the Japanese chain Bone Daddies and new concepts from Will Ricker (Great Eastern Dining Room and E&O) and Adam White (The Riding House Café). The recently opened M Restaurant and Wine Store in The Zig Zag Building, meanwhile, VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

promises a menu featuring the likes of Wagyu and Kobe beef. For those with an appetite for internationally flavoured fare, there’s a veritable feast on offer in Victoria. High-street names such as Wagamama, Leon, Zizzi and Benugo have led the charge in the grab-and-go arena, and the intention is for Victoria to rival the capital’s other gastro hotspots. The food market at Cardinal Place every Thursday has already laid the foundations, with street-food stalls such as Peruvian-style Panka, Ethiopian Red Tent Ent and Scottish Deeney’s offering Victorians an inventive fast bite. Meanwhile, independent traders such as Iris & June, Rippon Cheese and Coffee Geek and Friends have joined the fray. 22

While a new foodie scene is flourishing in SW1, its hospitality heritage already has deep roots. The Goring has been drawing clientele for over a century to partake of its fine dining, afternoon tea and expertly mixed cocktails. Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother were regular guests, and it was here that Kate Middleton spent the night before her wedding to Prince William. Besides The Goring, of the 48 hotels in Victoria, a further three have five stars: The Conrad St. James, 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences (home to the Michelinstarred Quilon) and Hotel 41 (with just 30 rooms, the capital’s smallest five-star establishment), complete the firmament.

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: HOTELIER

Jeremy Goring T h e G o r i n g ’s C E O h a s h o t e l - k e e p i n g i n h i s b l o o d – b u t i t ’s i n n o v a t i o n , not nostalgia, that quickens his hear t

FROM TOP The hotel’s refurbished entrance hall; Jeremy Goring

eremy Goring is no ordinary hotelier, but then The Goring – of which he is chief executive officer

– is no ordinary five-star hotel. An English country house in the heart of Belgravia (with a croquet lawn to boot), the family-run institution has been tempering its idiosyncratic brand of wit and charm with luxury and glamour since 1910 – when it was opened by Jeremy’s great-grandfather, Otto R Goring. Today, while Jeremy is able to count himself in a category all of his own – that of ‘hotelier to the Royal Family’, courtesy of the royal warrant now adorning the front of the building – his success is one born of experience rather than entitlement. After graduating from the Lausanne Hotel School in 1988, he cut his teeth at the Four Seasons and The Lanesborough, London, before venturing somewhat further afield to open hotels for the Rosewood Group in Mexico, the Caribbean and Indonesia. It was only after a further three-year stint managing The Observatory in Sydney for Orient-Express Hotels (now The Langham, Sydney) that he would return to the UK in 2005 to join the family firm as CEO. When The Goring was founded, it professed to be the first establishment in the world in which every room had a private bathroom and central heating. It remains the only hotel in London still operated by the family that built it, and has just completed its most ambitious refurbishment to date, under

THE GORING

Jeremy’s watchful eye. With design input from the likes of the venerable David Linley and Nina Campbell, it’s a grand statement that proves the family’s thirst for innovation and excellence hasn’t diminished one bit over the past 106 years. 27

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS: NANCY DURRANT Ar ts Commissioning Editor at The Times and ar t critic

Galleries & the Visual Arts In the window of 123 Victoria Street hangs a thing of great beauty. A vast yet delicate snowflake slowly turns with glittering grace. It is truly mesmerising. Conrad Shawcross’s ‘Canopy Studies I and II’ – which were inspired, says the artist, by the play of light through leaves on a summer’s day – is one of a growing number of arresting public works that have proliferated across Victoria in recent years. Visible through the glass frontage of 62 Buckingham Gate is one of the pieces from Grayson Perry’s contemporary tapestry series The Vanity of Small Differences. The building’s reception also houses Stuart Haygarth’s astonishing ‘Optical’ chandelier, which is made up of 70,000 recycled spectacle lenses. These remarkable artworks have been installed – and, in the case of the Shawcross and Haygarth, commissioned – by Land Securities, which is committed to integrating installations into all of its developments and, in the process, VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

promoting British artists. The company is also working closely with ArtSource – a specialist consultancy that champions the work of burgeoning contemporary artists as much as it does established ones – with a view to Nova, Victoria becoming a showcase for emerging creatives. Unlike the many sculptures that already have a permanent home in the area, the works in development will be displayed as part of a dynamic open-air gallery hosting temporary exhibitions. This approach is akin to central London’s

When it comes to nur turing the next generation of creatives, Victoria has played a pivotal role 24

Fourth Plinth programme, via which a contemporary installation takes pride of place in Trafalgar Square for a year. The art on display at Nova, Victoria is sure to prove a striking attraction for residents and visitors alike. When it comes to nurturing the next generation of British creatives, Victoria has played a pivotal role. The Delfina Foundation, at Catherine Place, is devoted to artistic exchange and experimentation. Founded in 1988 as the Delfina Studio Trust, the scheme helped emerging artists – including 12 future Turner Prize nominees – hone their craft through the provision of affordable studio space. Land Securities’ own Studio Award, similarly, offers three young talents space for a year rent-free, helping in the process to launch their fledgling careers. Art and philanthropy is a partnership that is tried and tested, and it’s one that can only serve to enhance Victoria’s already flourishing culture.

TOBY STONEHAM

Home to public works by l eading artists as well as some a c c l a i m e d i n s t i t u t i o n s , S W1 i s e s t a b l i s h i n g i t s e l f a s o n e o f t h e c a p i t a l ’s k e y c u l t u r a l q u a r t e r s

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: ARTIST

Grayson Perr y In housing one of his fêted tapestries, Victoria pays homage to the wit a n d p r o w e s s o f a m a n w h o ’s a m o n g t h i s c e n t u r y ’s m o s t c e l e b r a t e d a n d unconventional social commentators

lthough the appellation ‘Renaissance Man’ is horribly overused, Grayson Perry, whose richly complex, sharply witty yet beautiful

tapestry ‘The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal’ is mounted on permanent display at 62 Buckingham Gate, can’t help but invite it. The potter, who first grabbed the public’s attention when he turned up to receive the 2003 Turner Prize dressed in a short pink satin frock adorned with bunny rabbits, has remained in the limelight ever since, becoming a loved and respected commentator on contemporary culture. His artwork sells for many thousands to the fortunate few, but for the public, it’s Perry’s unique vision of the world, and his ability to express it in words – a rare talent in a visual artist – that makes him worthy of an audience. The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, the British Museum exhibition he curated in 2011, opened up a new way of seeing the institution’s exquisite but often anonymous artefacts. He followed this with the documentary series In the Best Possible Taste, examining how cultural preferences differ across the British social spectrum. It was from this that the ‘Annunciation’ tapestry – one of a set of six – evolved, followed by Who Are You?, which explored identity. In 2013, in his quartet of Reith Lectures, entitled Playing to the

ABOVE Grayson Perr y discusses his tapestr y ‘The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal’, which hangs at 62 Buckingham Gate

Gallery, Grayson cheerfully bit the hand that feeds him by exploring the effect of the market on art and artists. But, of course, he did so with his customary charm, and the market still loves him. 25

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: ARTIST

lthough the appellation ‘Renaissance Man’ is horribly overused, Grayson Perry, whose richly complex, sharply witty yet beautiful

ABOVE Grayson Perr y discusses his tapestr y ‘The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal’, which hangs at 62 Buckingham Gate

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS: K AT IE BA RON Fashion Features Editor of Volt and Senior Editor at St ylus Media Group

Fashion & Creativity Industr y big- hitters and startups alike are responding to the gravitational pull of Victor ia , magnetised by the n e w h u b o f i n n o v a t i o n t h a t i s c e n t r e d o n S W1

Every so often, a locale experiences a cultural shift that has the cross-industry traction to ensure its permanence. With its burgeoning creative quarter, and led by the fashion sector, Victoria is currently in exactly that position. A host of esteemed international labels – including Armani, Belstaff, Burberry, Bally, Tom Ford and Jimmy Choo – have chosen to relocate their headquarters away from traditional areas to express their evolution into more progressive operational thinking. Many of them are exchanging the efficiency-first philosophy of the f lagship-plus-head-office format for brand hubs that are strategic, multipurpose hotbeds of activity able not only to foster innovation but also to host events and to function as showrooms. The most significant of these is British powerhouse Burberry – a company that VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

now refers to itself as an entertainment brand rather than simply a retailer. Its monolithic headquarters on Horseferry Road was designed by Gensler, the architects responsible for The New York Times building and the London Stock Exchange. The Burberry HQ’s interior features vast digital screens and huge

‘Our HQ is so much more than a building – it ’s a place to unify the creativity of all our employees’ CHRISTOPHER BAILE Y CEO and Chief Creative O f ficer, Burberr y

shafts of light, giving a nod to the power of art when it comes to rousing a legion of troops into action – the space houses 1,200 people and counting. When it launched in 2009, CEO and Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey described it as ‘so much more than a building’. ‘It’s a place to unify the creativity and the dynamic attitude of all our employees that are driving this company forward,’ he declared. The barometer of change, however, should be read by observing the events and activities being fostered in the new cultural climate. British style publication Volt shot the cover and main feature for its autumn/winter 2014–15 issue entirely in SW1. And, in January 2015, when French fashion house Maison Margiela provided the platform for iconic British designer John Galliano’s longanticipated return to the industry, it did

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

C AT WA L K P I C T U R E S .C O M

PRE VIOUS PAGE The Burberr y AW15 cat walk show THIS PAGE, FROM LEF T 123 Vic toria Street; The Galliano for Maison Margiela AW15 London Fashion Week show at 62 Buckingham Gate

so at one of Victoria’s landmark buildings, 62 Buckingham Gate. While the fashion industry is driving change, it is the youth within that sector that must take particular credit for the shift in its thinking. The area’s adoption by hip young inf luencers is beginning to generate the kind of social-media-fuelled shine traditional advertising can no longer buy. ShowStudio, the fashion-film company founded by renowned photographer Nick Knight on Motcomb Street, is a prime example. Knight is an inspiration for style enthusiasts, and has used his SW1 site as a shoot space, gallery and retail venue in a 21st-century echo of Warhol’s Factory. Where creativity leads, in the digital era, technology is sure to follow. Playing a similarly key role is the TrueStart tech hub. While Shoreditch may have staked an early claim as ‘the UK’s Silicon Valley’, VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

TrueStart is now challenging that accolade, and with a bigger advantage. Capitalising on the area’s thriving fashion scene, it is promoting up to 20 new business startups a year via a 4,300sq ft testing space on Francis Street. Equipped for highend innovation, it’s already incubating cutting-edge projects for its neighbours – including the Telegraph Group, Channel 4 and industrial designer Marc Newson, who became so enamoured with his headquarters at Howick Place that he now lives there. Meanwhile, e-commerce style network Motilo and acclaimed New York advertising agency Droga5 – which describes itself as a ‘digitally native, humanity-obsessed’ creative collective – have set up their UK base camps nearby. As a creative quarter perfectly poised to enjoy the fruits of cultural crosspollination, Victoria is f lourishing. 28

ANTHEA SIMMS

The area’s adoption by hip young influencers is generating dynamic and thriving businesses

FA SHI O N & DES I G N IN V I C TO RI A Armani, Bally, Belstaff, Burberry, Donna Ida, Jimmy Choo, Tom Ford, Kering (owner of Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney and more), Links of London, LVMH, Marc Newson, Philip Treacy and Ralph & Russo

C RE AT I V E MED I A & T EC HN O LO GY IN V I C TO RI A AT&T, BSkyB, Channel 4, Chime Communications, Droga5, Edelman, Fast Track, Informa, Intuit, London Sky Media, Motilo, PA Consulting Group, ShowStudio, Smiths Group, The Telegraph Media Group, The Sports Business (Chime PLC), TrueStart and VCCP

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: FASHION DESIGNER

Sandra Choi The woman whose inspired designs and astute business sense have ma de Jimmy Choo a mega-brand

FROM ABOVE Sk y-high s tilet tos by Jimmy Choo; Sandra Choi

uxury fashion is currently in flux, driven by a growing female appetite for a world beyond

trophy-wear. One of the fashion visionaries leading that charge is Sandra Choi, the Creative Director of global empire Jimmy Choo – a woman who knows exactly how to steer a fairy-tale brand back to full relevance. Since joining the business in 1989, aged just 20, under the guidance of her uncle, Jimmy Choo himself, Choi has been a vital part of the brand’s creative-commercial backbone, implementing a vision based on bringing couture footwear to retail level. Appointed Joint Creative Director in 1996 in tandem with Tamara Mellon, who left the company in 2011, her fashion acumen has been a guiding light. Her transformative presence helped boost the company’s sales by 5.7 per cent in 2014.

Jimmy Choo’s creative director knows how to steer a fair y-tale brand back to full relevance The notion of translation, and diversification, is part of the Choi story. Born on the Isle of Wight, she was sent at eight months old to live with her grandparents in Hong Kong. On her return to the UK, she studied fashion at London’s Central Saint Martins, but left the course to join the cut-and-thrust of industry. She has since been integral to Jimmy Choo’s introduction of bags, fragrances, eyewear and a made-to-order service, plus the launch of the men’s business and, of course, the premise of the Choo girl. Now, in a key, legacy-steering role that straddles collections, marketing – see 2014’s much-hyped virtual showroom – and further international expansion, Choi KIT LEE

directs her team from the company’s headquarters in the core of Victoria. Fittingly, it’s just a stone’s throw from the brand’s very first store on Motcomb Street. 29

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

WORDS: JAMES MEDD Contributor to The Guardian, The Times and New Statesman

Philanthropy & Change Whether it is economic, structural or organisational, change is always driven by vision, and this is as true of philanthropy as anything else in society. And that is why Victoria – vision-led and undergoing rapid transformation – has become a centre for pioneering charity and community work. Through bold and unique initiatives, Land Securities has been the driving force behind many of the district’s recent social changes. As a company that aims to ‘shape the future for good,’ it has established itself as a placemaker that is committed to delivering sustainability that extends far beyond the framework of a building. One way of strengthening a community is by working together with its businesses and organisations. Founded in Carlisle Place in 1981, The Passage is London’s largest voluntary resource centre for the homeless and one of the many initiatives supported by Land Securities. Through its partnership with the Prince’s Trust and its own Sustainable Business scheme, the company has made education and employment for disadvantaged people like those helped by the charity its number-one VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE

priority. In collaboration with contractors, Jobcentre Plus and local colleges, the scheme’s f lagship project, the Community Employment Programme, offers training and job opportunities. Since its launch in 2011, the scheme has helped to train more than 600 people, equipping them with the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to secure full-time work. Unemployment affects thousands of people, regardless of age or background. Land Securities’ Community Employment Programme takes every candidate’s longterm goals into consideration and works with them on a one-to-one basis through every step of their journey. Recognising success and hard work is an integral part of the scheme – a candidate’s achievements are rewarded not only through the opportunity to be engaged in full-time work, but via initiatives such as the annual Land Securities Employment Awards. Philanthropy is a litmus test of the success of any society, and offers proof that its leaders have breadth of vision – and Land Securities is committed to ensuring it remains a core value in Victoria. 30

CAMER A PRESS

L and Sec ur ities’ investme nt in positive initiatives and people - centred progress is ensur ing that community remains at the very heart of Victor ia

V I CTO RI A V IS I O N A RY: PHILANTHROPIST

Joe Cerrell T h e G a t e s F o u n d a t i o n ’s MD for Global Policy & Advocacy believes in taking the risks that governments can’ t

Based in the 62 Buckingham Gate office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – a valued Land Securities’ customer – Joe Cerrell, the charity’s Managing Director for Global Policy & Advocacy, operates on a scale that competes with the very corporations with which he sets up initiatives. A White House staffer in the Clinton administration, Cerrell joined the Gates Foundation in 2001 and established its London office in 2010. For him, the role of the organisation, which seeks to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty around the world, is ‘to take big risks where governments may not be able to’. That means not only big-picture considerations, such as long-term strategies for disease prevention, but also conceptual thinking. One such concept is Cerrell’s CAMER A PRESS

belief that philanthropy is essential for global economic growth, but as he’s keen to remind us, foreign aid saves lives without costing nearly as much as we might think. 31

FINANCE | VICTORIA VISIONARIES

Contributors

K AEL A FENN-SMITH

BEN WRIGHT

ALEX MATHERS

L AND SECURITIES HE AD OF COMMERCIAL

THE TELEGR APH GROUP BUSINESS EDITOR

ILLUSTR ATOR

Kaela Fenn-Smith is Head of Commercial for Land Securities London Portfolio and sits on the London Executive Committee, the Portfolio’s Divisional Board. She is responsible for office, retail leasing, residential sales and marketing.

Ben Wright is Group Business Editor at The Telegraph, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of the business team and all related content in both print and digital. He was previously the City correspondent at The Wall Street Journal.

Alex Mathers is an illustrator, speaker, consultant and writer. He specialises in digital vector maps and landscapes. He is the founder of content-sharing platform Red Lemon Club, which helps creatives and entrepreneurs increase their impact.

JONATHAN BELL

NANCY DURRANT

STEFAN CHOMK A

WALLPAPER* EDITOR-AT-L ARGE

THE TIMES ARTS COMMISSIONING EDITOR

RESTAUR ANT EDITOR

Jonathan Bell writes about design and architecture for Wallpaper*, Blueprint and Grafik, and is co-editor of Things Magazine. His recent books include Carchitecture, The Transformable House, 21st Century House and Penthouse Living.

Nancy Durrant is Arts Commissioning Editor at The Times, focusing on visual art and theatre, and a critic. She has presented the BBC’s Culture Show, contributed to Channel 4 News and judged the Catlin Art Prize and Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund.

Stefan Chomka is Editor of Restaurant magazine. A former Features Writer of the Year award winner, his career has encompassed an array of hospitality and food-industry magazines. His specialist fields include future culinary trends.

K ATIE BARON

JAMES MEDD

IVAN JONES

VOLT FASHION FEATURES EDITOR

THE GUARDIAN CONTRIBUTOR

PHOTOGR APHER

Katie Baron is a producer turned author, journalist and creative consultant who works across the fashion, art, music, retail and design industries. In 2012, she published her first book, Stylists: New Fashion Visionaries.

James Medd is a freelance writer who has contributed to the likes of New Statesman, The Observer, The Times, Esquire, The Rake, Q and The Word on subjects as diverse as music, film, television and philanthropy.

Ivan Jones’s recent work has included commissions for Blueprint, Surface, RIBA, University of the Arts London, Laurence King and Thames & Hudson. He is currently producing a series of portraits of international women architects.

VICTORIA VISIONARIES | FINANCE