Placemaking pioneer Giles Semper joins Cadogan as Head of Place

Semper has been a pioneer of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the UK and a leading thinker on placemaking and urban regeneration with over 20 years of experience in successfully driving city-centre transformation from Singapore to Southampton. His most recent role as Executive Director of Go! Southampton saw him support local businesses in setting up the BID, before taking it through its first term and a resoundingly successful second ballot in November 2022. Under Giles’ leadership Go! Southampton played a key role in the city’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2025.

Prior to this, he was a Director at The Means, an urban regeneration and placemaking consultancy, where he worked globally with over 60 international BIDs and more locally, played a critical role in shaping Better Bankside alongside the creation and management of VauxhallOne.

Giles’ appointment coincides with a positive first half of the year with footfall up consistently on pre-Covid 2019 levels and string of flagship retail lettings, demonstrating the neighbourhood’s resilience and opportunity for it to contribute further to a healthier and more sustainable future for London. His role will also support the recent launch of ‘Chelsea 2030′, a stewardship strategy outlining Cadogan’s aims to significantly reduce its environmental impact, support a thriving community and improve climate resilience – including a commitment to emit Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

Hugh Seaborn, Chief Executive of Cadogan, said: “I am delighted that Giles is joining Cadogan. Our business is obviously not just about buildings but breathing life into the spaces between them and supporting the community within and around them. Giles’ considerable insight and expertise will be invaluable to ensuring Chelsea strengthens further as a thriving destination to live, work and visit.

Giles Semper, Head of Place at Cadogan, said: “It is a privilege for me to be joining Cadogan, a longstanding steward of one of the world’s most famous neighbourhoods – it is exciting to be working with the talented team to conceive new ways in which Chelsea be thriving and inclusive.

People will always want to come together, and town centres are not just commerce but for leisure, entertaining and culture. Chelsea provides a perfect canvas for its community, with a backdrop of beautiful architecture and public spaces – our responsibility is to embrace these elements and continue to create an inspiring, accessible environment.”