The King's Cross Group, the company behind the major regeneration of the 67-acre estate in central London, has hired Sonal Jain as its first director of sustainability and social impact.
Jain joins from flex operator Workspace where she led the company's ESG strategy, with the firm saying her recruitment marks the next stop towards achieving its net zero and social impact goals.
She has two decades' experience, spanning JLL, COP26 advisory work and her role as a board member of the Better Buildings Partnership. The group said she will work to "guide the next phase of [its] sustainability journey".
Her appointment also comes as the company assumes full asset-management control of the estate, helping it to create "a future-focused business dedicated to unlocking the estate’s long-term potential" and reinforce its commitment to sustainability.
Jain said in a statement: "King’s Cross sets the bar for sustainable urban regeneration. With 19 million people visiting and tens of thousands living and working here each year, our opportunity to lead with sustainability at scale is immense.
"My focus will be on harnessing this scale to deliver meaningful impact - for the planet and for the people who make King’s Cross what it is."
Leo Shapland, chief executive of The King’s Cross Group, added: "Sonal’s appointment positions us well to continue delivering impact at scale. At a time when some are questioning whether investment in society and the environment create competitive advantage, we’re clear: it’s going to be pivotal to how we unlock the long-term potential of the King’s Cross estate – for our investors, customers and communities."