News analysis

Burns looks back at 34 years in the top job at Derwent

By 2018-11-29T05:09:00

John Burns Derwent London by Andy Barnham 7_

Source: Andy Barnham

Industry veteran, who has been chief executive since 1984, will be replaced by property director Paul Williams.

Burns and Simon Silver, who will remain a director, founded the company in 1984 by taking over the defunct operating business of the Derwent Valley Light Railway and together they transformed it from a £1.5m minnow into a FTSE-250 powerhouse that today commands a market cap of £3.4bn.

Burns has been chief executive from the outset, making him one of the longest-serving bosses of a UK listed company. Property Week caught up with Burns and property director Paul Williams, who will take over the top job next May, to look back at the past 34 years and find out what the future holds for Derwent.

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