London, Jan 19, 2026, 09:03 GMT
- Jayne Cottam will join the GPE board as CFO starting March 16. Nick Sanderson is set to step down on January 30.
- Cottam served as Assura’s CFO from 2017 until December 2025, the company confirmed.
- Joint directors of finance Stephen Burrows and Martin Leighton will take on interim finance responsibilities.
Great Portland Estates (GPE) announced Monday that Jayne Cottam will take over as chief financial officer starting March 16. She replaces Nick Sanderson, who is stepping down on Jan. 30 to join Savills as CFO. The London-focused landlord is shifting its finance leadership as part of the move. 1
The CFO’s role is crucial, balancing strict control over the balance sheet with the spending needed to keep offices attractive to tenants. GPE identifies as a FTSE 250 property investment and development firm, referring to the UK’s mid-cap stock index. 2
The timing is tight as well. Sanderson departs at month-end, while Cottam isn’t set to begin for another six weeks, creating a brief but tricky gap in overseeing cash, debt, and reporting.
Cottam was CFO of Assura from September 2017 until December 2025. Prior to that, she held senior finance positions at Morris Homes and metal recycler EMR. Early in her career, she worked at holiday and hotel operator WA Shearings.
GPE announced that Cottam’s gross basic salary will be £440,000 annually, with a pension contribution set at 15% of that amount. The company confirmed there will be no buyout or compensation for prior remuneration packages.
Chair William Eccleshare described the appointment of Cottam as the result of an “extensive search” and said he was “delighted” to have her on board. Chief executive Toby Courtauld praised her as an “excellent blend” for the role. Cottam herself expressed that she was “delighted to be joining GPE.” 3
GPE announced that Stephen Burrows and Martin Leighton, its joint directors of finance, will cover Sanderson’s finance duties from Jan. 30 to March 16. The company added that comprehensive details of Cottam’s total pay will be revealed in its 2026 annual report.
The appointment comes amid a UK listed-property sector where investors are pressuring management to rein in leverage and carefully weigh development risks. London office rivals like British Land, Land Securities, and Derwent London face similar challenges balancing tenant demand, refurbishment costs, and funding choices.
Yet, swapping in a new finance chief won’t alter the fundamentals of a volatile property market. Should financing conditions tighten once more or office leasing stall, GPE might see its valuations and development pipeline hit hard.
The appointment was also covered by CoStar, Estates Gazette, and Kalkine Media. https://www.costar.com/article/1636873817/gpe-appoints-chief-financial-officer https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/gpe-appoints-former-assura-finance-chief-as-cfo/ 4
