Veteran retail duo launch real estate advisory firm
Two experienced members of the retail property industry have launched their own advisory firm, ElevateRetail.
Rob Hadfield and Gemma Pratt have both worked in-house for both investor and occupier clients, which ElevateRetail says will create a “uniqueness” which should add value to its services.
Hadfield began his career in Jones Lang Lasalle’s retail agency team, before moving into in-house positions at Flight Centre, Costa Coffee, and then Debenhams for nine years where he worked as group property director.
He then moved to Capital & Regional in 2019 as commercial director, focusing on the strategic direction and leadership of the leasing, diversified income, and commercialisation teams.
Hadfield joined RivingtonHark in 2022 to lead on maximising income generation for the Redical Portfolio, the UK’s first ESG shopping centre fund.
Pratt began her career as a retail agent, working for the likes of Savills, before working for a number of retail brands.
She joined H&M in 2007, leading the retailer’s property team in the UK and Ireland, collaborating with both the UK team and H&M’s headquarters in Sweden.
Pratt then took up the role of leasing director Landsec in 2010 before moving to Tesco in 2012 as head of leasing. In 2015, she joined Claire’s, initially as European property director before becoming vice president of business development and real estate in 2018. A year later, she became vice president of concessions in Europe.
In 2022, Pratt founded Applegarth Retail and created an advisory consultancy with clients Crosstown Doughnuts and Comptoir Group. She formed ElevateRetail with Rob Hadfield at the beginning of 2024.
Food and beverage operator Crosstown Doughnuts and restaurant operator Comptoir Group have been retained as clients.