intu has appointed Matthew Roberts as its new chief executive, with effect from 29 April.

He will take over from David Fischel, who is set to leave on 26 April, after announcing his intention to do so last July. Fischel had been at the helm of intu since 2001 and with the company since 1985.

As chief financial officer of the shopping centre group since 2010, Roberts is expected to bring continuity and experience to the role.

His main responsibilities include delivering underlying centre performance, as well as creating plans to reduce Intu’s debt to assets ratio to below 50 per cent through disposals.

Prior to working at intu, Roberts was the finance director of Debenhams, managing the department store’s Initial Public Offering in 1998. He also served as chief financial officer of Gala Coral from 2004 to 2008.

“Matthew has been an exceptional CFO at intu,” chairman John Strachan said. “This, combined with his extensive and relevant experience, including his proven expertise in leading strategic transformation projects, means he is absolutely the right person to lead this business going forward.”

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