David Lockhart

NewRiver REIT plc

("NewRiver" or the "Company")

David Lockhart

The Company wishes to announce the very sad news of the passing of David Lockhart, co-founder of NewRiver. 

David was an entrepreneur, family man and inspirational leader. He was highly respected across the industry, and in a long and varied career set up three successful businesses. David was particularly proud of NewRiver, which he founded with Allan Lockhart and Mark Davies in 2009. He played a major part in creating the group that is now a leading retail and community pub specialist with a portfolio valued at £1.2 billion, before stepping down as Chief Executive in 2018.

In additional to exceptional business acumen, David had a great passion for property and people. He firmly put people at the core of everything he did and was very generous with his time, developing and shaping so many careers and a legacy culture that the Company and its stakeholders will always benefit from. David will be greatly missed by many of his current and former colleagues, close advisors and a wide range of industry contacts, a large number of whom became close personal friends over the years.

Baroness Ford, Non-Executive Chairman said: "We are deeply saddened by this news, and the thoughts of everyone at NewRiver are with David's family and friends. David was a formidable business leader, with a long and distinguished career that saw him found a string of successful businesses, including NewRiver, which he successfully guided from its £25 million IPO on the Alternative Investment Market in 2009 to become a FTSE 250 company. As a much-loved member of the NewRiver team, David will be remembered for his warmth and good humour as much as for his wisdom and sharp intellect. Having known David for many years, I deeply valued his friendship and wise counsel, and will miss him dearly."

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