Sir George Iacobescu: The man who put Canary Wharf on the map steps down
Sir George Iacobescu, the man who was the driving force behind the creation of Canary Wharf, is stepping back from his role as executive chairman of Canary Wharf Group.
Before taking up his latest role, Iacobescu was chief executive of the company from 1997 to 2011, as well as chairman and chief executive from 2011 to 2019.
World’s ‘biggest’ regeneration project
Iacobescu, who helped to transform Canary Wharf from an abandoned docklands into London’s “second City”, will take on the role of non-executive chairman from 1 July.
“I am immensely proud of everything that has been achieved at Canary Wharf. We took a piece of land that no one wanted, and we have delivered one of the biggest regeneration projects the world has ever seen,” Iacobescu said.
“I am enthusiastic about the future for Canary Wharf and look forward to continuing to support the company in this new role.”
‘Legend’ in the property industry
Canary Wharf Group’s chief executive Shobi Khan called Iacobescu a “legend in the property industry”.
“What he has achieved here in Canary Wharf is known throughout the world,” Khan said.
“Sir George turned an unwanted empty dock into the most successful regeneration project in the world and permanently changed not just the skyline but also the geography of London.
“His success paved the way for the rebirth of docklands and east London.”