THE GOVERNMENT Property Agency (GPA) has confirmed the appointment of Mark Bourgeois as its new Chief Executive Officer.

He was confirmed in the permanent position after holding the interim seat for 10 months.

Mark brings more than 30 years’ experience in strategic and operational leadership across the fields of investment, development and asset management within commercial real estate.

He is a former Managing Director for the UK and Ireland division at FTSE listed developer and investor Hammerson plc, and prior to that Executive Director at Capital & Regional plc. He also has extensive expertise in regeneration in partnership with local and city authorities, including acting as Interim Corporate Director for City Development at Liverpool City Council.

Georgia Gould MP, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, said:

“Mark has demonstrated exceptional leadership of the Government Property Agency during his tenure as interim Chief Executive over the past year.

“With decades of experience, Mark will be instrumental in enhancing the financial and environmental performance of the government estate while delivering world-class workplaces for civil servants nationwide.”

Pat Ritchie CBE, the GPA’s chair, said:  

“I am delighted to confirm Mark in the permanent role, he has already had a huge impact on the leadership of the GPA.

“Working closely with the board and executive team, Mark will continue to play a fundamental role in the way property is managed across government and creating great places to work for civil servants, supporting economic growth and local communities.

“He and the executive team will further build the agency’s commercial organisational culture, with our client and customer needs being at the heart of this. With Mark’s experience in real estate and building, inspiring and developing teams, he is the ideal leader to take the GPA to the next stage of our development.” 

Since launching in 2018, the GPA has grown to manage around 1 million sq m of the government’s office portfolio – acting as an expert partner to departments for strategic planning and workplace services including design, property technology and workplace experience. 

The agency is also responsible for the Government Hubs Programme – bringing civil service teams closer to the communities they serve across the UK. Recent milestones within the programme have included the opening of the Peterborough hub last year which last month was awarded Leesman+, and acquiring 5.5 acres of the former Central Retail Park at Ancoats in Manchester earlier this year which is currently the subject of a public consultation on the future development of Manchester Digital Campus.

Mark Bourgeois said:

“I am thrilled to be appointed as the permanent CEO at such a pivotal time for the GPA. During my time as interim, the collaborative support from departmental clients has been excellent  and I’m hugely grateful to impressively talented colleagues for all their continued dedication and commitment. We’re well placed to further strengthen the GPA culture, deliver financial efficiencies and productivity gains across the civil service, all in support of the Government’s missions. I’m looking forward to  the continued challenge.”

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