Retail Week founder appointed non-executive of Shaftesbury

Wheatcroft, who founded Retail Week in 1988, was, until recently, a senior financial journalist and national newspaper editor. She is the former editor of The Sunday Telegraph and was business and City editor of The Times between 1997 and 2006. In 1988, she founded Retail Week and was editor until 1994. This year, Wheatcroft will chair the Retail Week conference on March 12 and 13.

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.”

Shaftesbury chief executive Jonathan Lane 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 Bank.