New roles for former Safeway CFO Simon Laffin

Big changes at Watkin Jones and Assura see Simon Laffin take on new roles

ONE OF THE UK’s most experienced finance chiefs, Simon Laffin, has taken on new senior roles.

He has stepped up to executive chairman at primary care properties REIT Assura, after chief executive Graham Roberts begun a leave of absence following a cancer diagnosis. Laffin has served at Assura as chairman.

As part of the successful launch of long-running student property provider Watkin Jones to AIM, Laffin has joined the company as a non-executive. Watkin Jones’ CFO is Philip Byrom, who has served in the role since 2002.

It placed 100p-valued shares onto the market, raising £131.3m. The placement values the company at £255m. Its share price is currently 101.35p.

Laffin served as FD of then-FTSE 100 supermarket chain Safeway between 1995 and 2004.