He will be based in Bidwells Oxford office which has grown significantly in recent years, partly through a key merger with Meeson Williams Phillips in 2015.
Hoy has been Chief Executive of the Blenheim Estate in Oxfordshire for the past 14 years. He is also a member of the VisitEngland Advisory Board, a position he hopes to retain.
Prior to his time with Blenheim, John was Commercial Project Manager with the National Museums of Science & Industry, General Manager of Madame Tussauds in London, and Head of Operations & Retail at Warwick Castle. He is a farmer’s son, a Chartered Surveyor and, has also previously worked on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex and the Knebworth Estate in Hertfordshire.
Bidwells 100 strong Rural Division manage thousands of square miles of the UK’s countryside and coastline, helping clients to take advantage of opportunities in the high performing areas of forestry, renewables and agriculture.
In 2014, Bidwells completed the UK’s largest ever agri-investment deal when it acquired the Co-Operative Group’s farm business for the Wellcome Trust for £249 million. They have also helped longstanding clients such as The Hall Barn Estate in Beaconsfield grow and diversify through acquisitions, residential and commercial development, and strategic, long term asset management.
Patrick McMahon, Senior Partner at Bidwells comments: "John’s appointment is a game changer for Bidwells. Now more than ever, our clients in the Rural Sector are looking to ‘up their game’ by diversifying to unlock the full potential from their assets. John has presided over significant growth during his time at Blenheim and we are thrilled to be able to offer his insight and experience to help others share a ’bit of that magic’."
On joining Bidwells, Hoy comments: "It was always going to take something very special to prise me away from Blenheim Palace so I am very excited to be joining the team at Bidwells. They have a very successful heritage that has been built over many years and some fantastic clients have been part of that journey. It feels like a good fit.”
On the opportunities for clients, Hoy adds: "The Rural Sector has experienced challenges of late and Brexit adds further complication and threat, but all of these challenges can be converted into real opportunities if we work creatively with our clients and explore the future options with an open mind."
Hoy will take up his new position at Bidwells in January.
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