Will the end of David Atkins’ reign as chief executive of Hammerson spell a change in fortune for shareholders in the shopping centre owner (Louisa Clarence-Smith writes)? They probably hope so. He has led the company for more than a decade and over that time shareholder returns have fallen conspicuously. Investors who bought shares when Mr Atkins, 54, was appointed in October 2009 and who held on to their investment will have seen a return of -71 per cent, according to Jefferies, the broker.
Mr Atkins transformed the company into a retail-focused real estate investment trust, selling its London office portfolio in 2013. That strategy worked initially, with the shares rising to a peak of 700p in 2015 — but it has been unravelling over
