Potter Space, which owns, develops, and operates five business parks across the UK, has appointed Jason Rockett as managing director to replace Matthew Lamb, who is stepping down after 15 successful years with the company.
Jason brings a wealth of property experience to the company, having operated at a high level within the sector for more than 25 years. He joins from Gentian Development Group, prior to which he was at Scarborough Property Group and, more latterly, Sheffield United.
Jason spent over ten years with the Scarborough Property Group, ultimately as Development Director responsible for the growth and management of a £350 million+ development portfolio within London, the South of England and Wales.
From a standing start with Gentian, he built a diversified £25million+ portfolio of completed projects and created a development pipeline of more than £50 million.
Prior to that he was CEO of Sheffield United where he was responsible for the growth and diversification of the club’s off-field revenue streams, as well as creating an international presence across three continents.
He takes over the role from Matthew who has overseen major changes since he joined the company in 2005 which, at that time, operated as a third-party logistics company.
Matthew successfully led the company though the 2008/09 recession, negotiated an important and successful acquisition, and diversified the customer base to help build a £25m turnover company. This resulted in Potter Logistics becoming Motor Transport ‘Haulier of the Year’ in 2015, as well as being awarded ‘Warehouse Keeper of the Year’ by UKWA, which coincided with the Group’s 50th anniversary.
More recently, Matthew led the organisation through the change from the logistics company into an industrial property business. This was achieved through the successful sale of Potter Logistics’ operations to the Bowker Group in November 2016, enabling the company to concentrate solely on its business parks in Ripon, Knowsley, Droitwich, Ely and Selby, comprising more than 250 acres and in excess of £1.6m square feet of commercial space.
Overseeing a complete rebrand to Potter Space, incorporating the strapline ‘A Home for Business’ to encapsulate the essence of the new direction, the company is now midway through a £25 million investment programme.
Speaking about the changes, Derrick Potter, said,
“Matthew has worked extremely successfully over the last 15 years, changing the organisation from an award-winning logistics company into a thriving industrial business park operator.
“Naturally, we are delighted to have attracted someone of the calibre of Jason to replace him, as his skills and experience will prove invaluable as we take Potter Space to the next stage of its development.”
Commenting on his reasons for leaving, Matthew said,
“I am very pleased that we have successfully completed the transition of the business from logistics to industrial property. It has always been my intention to move on to new challenges once I had completed the rebrand of the business to Potter Space and put in place the development programme.
“It has been a rewarding endeavour, taking the company through this transformation and enabling the investment in its core assets, namely the Potter team we have assembled and the new facilities we have delivered.
“With the appointment of Jason, I am leaving the company with the confidence that Potter Space will continue to grow and prosper.”
Concluding, Jason said,
“I am really looking forward to working at Potter Space. I am taking over a successful operation and relishing the challenge of building on the excellent foundations that have been prepared for the business’s next stage of growth.”
