Illness prompts departure

May 20 2009 By The Journal

THE chief executive of the UK'S largest quoted residential property owner Grainger plc has taken a leave of absence due to ill health.

Rupert Dickinson, 49, has been at the Newcastle firm 17 years and quickly moved up the ladder to director in 1994 before becoming chief executive in 2002.

Based in London, he recently became executive director of London office and industrial property development company Workspace Group and debated the future of the property market with MPs as recently as last month.

The board, which would not release any more information about Mr Dickinson’s condition, has now appointed duty chief executive and finance director Andrew Cunningham acting chief executive.