Peel MD Simpson quits for ‘new challenge’

Andrew Simpson, group managing director of Peel Holdings, has handed in his resignation after four years at the company.

Simpson stepped down from his post earlier this month but will continue, Peel said, to 'lead certain on-going investment projects' for a short period.

For many Manchester business people Simpson will be forever remembered as the man that led the ultimately successful 'No' campaign against road charging and the Transport Innovation Fund.

Peel, a vast property and transport group headed by John Whittaker, avoided mentioning the TIF campaign in its statement, which added: "Andrew joined the Peel Group almost four years ago to lead its corporate expansion programme and the transition from a centrally managed conglomerate to a de-centralised group of divisions with strong management teams.

"That process has now largely been completed and the group now holds significant investments in a number of growing businesses including ports, airports, media, energy, land, developments, investment property, environmental assets, hotels, utilities and advertising as well as a portfolio of investments in quoted companies of around £500m."

The departure follows the appointment of long-time deputy chairman Robert Hough to chairman of the North West Development Agency in the summer. Hough dropped his deputy chairman title and became a non-executive director of Peel.

Simpson, who has not revealed his next move, said: "It has been a privilege to work with John Whittaker and the Peel team over the past few years. Peel is a unique and inspirational company and a credit and testament to the vision and entrepreneurialism of John Whittaker.

"The group now has strong teams in place across its divisions which operate with greater autonomy and less need for my involvement. I feel that the job that I came to do has been done and look forward to my next challenge."

Whittaker said: "Andrew joined Peel at a time of transition for the group from conglomerate to de-centralised investment company. He has been instrumental in delivering that process and in achieving corporate transactions, which have given Peel a very strong balance sheet and fantastic platform for the future.

"Andrew will be missed by the team but leaves Peel as a personal friend and I wish him the very best for the future."

Simpson was commercial director of Speedy Hire prior to joining Peel and spent eight years at Rothschild before that.