A former adviser to London Mayor Boris Johnson has been drafted in to help promote the West End.
The New West End Company — which looks after the interests of businesses around Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street — has hired former Mayoral special advisor Sir Peter Rogers to lead the group, taking over from chairman Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas in July.
The group is investing £25 million in a series of improvements for the region.
As part of the plan, the east end of Oxford Street close to Tottenham Court Road is finally to be revamped.
Retail property specialist David Kenningham has been hired to lead the transformation. Kenningham, previously at property firm CBRE, will lead a new retail strategy to attract major global brands.
The east end of the street has become the shabbier end, with small, poor-quality shops and is currently home to many temporary lettings rather than big-name brands. The group now plans to improve the area and bring in 20 million more shoppers by the completion of Crossrail in 2018.
The improvements will be made together with landlords in the area.
Johnson said: “Sir Peter Rogers has worked tirelessly for London for many years. Under his stewardship I have no doubt that the West End will build on its reputation as one of London’s biggest draws for visitors to the capital and as a key driver of our economy.”
