New executive for development - V&A Waterfront

Martin Kearns

Kearns is a chartered engineer with roots firmly entrenched in the technical aspect of property development, and he brings a wealth of experience to the position. His responsibilities will include managing the V&A Waterfront's bold long-term development plans.

The appointment comes after an extensive search for the right person to drive the rapidly expanding development portfolio. With his experience of mixed-use and multi-purpose projects in South Africa and abroad, Kearns was the perfect candidate and well placed to take up the development reins which includes exciting new projects lined up for the next 10 years.

Kearns was qualified in the UK and cut his teeth with Mott MacDonald and Connell Wagner where he led a team involved in the roll-out of Walmart stores in China, as well as the development of the new airport terminal in Hong Kong.

Strong leadership

Other project highlights during Kearns' career include:

• Arup Consulting Engineers' development of technical and contractual documentation for the Dublin Port Tunnel linking the northern part of the city to the Docklands and Dublin Port.
  
• While working for Dublin-based Davy Hickey Properties, he was involved with various commercial and industrial property development projects for many large, blue-chip multi-national companies, most notably Time Warner's America Online, AC Nielsen, Colgate Palmolive and SAP.
  
• Locally, he steered the establishment and growth of Eurocape's South African business and oversaw the successful completion of the mixed-use Mandela Rhodes Place and the Taj Cape Town Hotel in a joint venture with India's Tata Group.
  
• More recently, Kearns has been consulting to the Western Cape Government on the Property Regeneration Programme, which is a programme within the Department of Transport and Public Works to unlock development and economic potential from a number of large, strategically-located land parcels.

Commenting on the appointment, V&A Waterfront CEO David Green said on 26 June, "Development at the V&A Waterfront has upped a gear and requires strong leadership to drive the active development phase we are in. We have found that in Martin Kearns. A significant development pipeline in conjunction with Mr Kearns' appointment is also a reflection of our shareholders' willingness to invest in the property."

Speaking on his appointment, Kearns said, "The V&A Waterfront is one of the prime development sites in not only South Africa, but Africa too. It is an honour to take on this role and the new challenge it presents."