Shaftesbury appoint former Sunday Telegraph editor as non-exec director

Wheatcroft, a finance journalist, was the former editor of the Sunday Telegraph and prior to that the business and city editor of The Times between 1997 and 2006. She was news editor of Estates Times in 1970s before moving to work at the Daily MAil. She has also worked at several other national newspapers as a business correspondent including The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph.

Patience Wheatcroft said: 'As someone who lives in London, loves London and is a long-time and enthusiastic student of retail, I am a great admirer of the way Shaftesbury is developing and managing its villages to add to the vibrancy of the capital.'

Different perspective

Jonathan Lane, Shaftesbury chief executive, said: ‘Patience will bring a different perspective to the Board. I am sure that she will make a significant contribution to the development of the Group's strategy, as we continue to invest in the most lively areas of London's West End.'

Wheatcroft is also a non-executive director of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank.