DS Smith, the sustainable packaging company, has today announced the appointment of Matthew Stone as Group Property Director. A corporate real estate specialist, Matthew has demonstrable experience in helping large, global companies manage their property strategies while reducing costs.
He joins the FTSE 100 multinational – which employs around 30,000 people in over 30 countries across its Paper, Recycling and Packaging divisions – to lead its group property function. Stone will look to strengthen DS Smith’s property strategy following a number of corporate acquisitions over the past few years.
Stone joins DS Smith from Place Consulting where he was a Strategic Property Adviser for two years, providing corporate real estate advice to companies undergoing structural or industry change such as Sainsbury’s and NHS England. Prior to this, he worked at M&G Real Estate, Kingfisher Plc and Cushman & Wakefield.
Commenting on his new role, Matthew Stone, Group Property Director at DS Smith said: “I’m delighted to be joining DS Smith, where the Group proposition and multinational offering creates an exciting new property challenge. As the company successfully adjusts and integrates following extensive M&A activity and the impact of Covid-19, I look forward to helping it achieve even greater results.”
Reporting to Iain Simm, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Stone will replace Steve Cook, who has now retired after 27 years at DS Smith.
Iain Simm, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary at DS Smith said: “We’re pleased to welcome Matthew to DS Smith following the retirement of Steve Cook, who we’d like to express our gratitude to after 27 years in the business. DS Smith’s multinational offering and vast workforce makes property strategy and management a crucial element to operating effectively. Matthew brings with him a wealth of experience to benefit the wider Group.”
This position will be based in DS Smith’s headquarters in London.
