A highly professional team with a different way of working producing a different way of thinking.
Sheila King - Founder & Chief Executive
Sheila is renowned for her visionary approach to retail destinations, global industry contacts and retailer relationships. Throughout her career, Sheila has consistently anticipated trends in retail mix and the growth of new international brands and implemented strategies to benefit from them.
She established Sheila King International in 2014 after 20 years as Group Leasing Director and New Business Director at Hammerson plc.
Sheila led the leasing strategy for all nine of Hammerson’s major city centre and regional developments including Bullring, Birmingham, Brent Cross and Spitalfields London.
Before joining Hammerson plc in 1994, Sheila was a Senior Executive at Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) and, at 26, was given the responsibility to run the development and leasing of the 1 million sq ft Glades shopping centre, Bromley. At the time, CSC were the leading shopping centre innovators in the UK, introducing turnover rents to the UK in Bromley.
Industry Appointments
• Member of the Supervisory Board, Multi Corporation - The Blackstone Group 2015 - 2017
• Advisor to The Blackstone Group Europe 2017-current
• ICSC European Executive & Advisory Boards 2008-2019
• Property Week Editorial Board Member
Michaela Dakin
Michaela is one of the UK’s leading retail real estate consultants with a huge passion for retail, mixed use and placemaking.
She has built a considerable track-record in providing strategic leasing advice on prime retail assets and developments for URW, Hammerson, Land Securities, Grosvenor and British Land. Michaela has also built valuable long term international relationships within the retail and leisure occupier markets.
Michaela’s wealth of knowledge and network provide landlord clients with an informed strategic overview and dialogue with key retailers.
Michaela joined SKI in April 2020 following a 20-year career at Cushman & Wakefield as an International Partner within their EMEA Retail Team.
Ruby Elmhirst
Ruby Elmhirst joined Sheila King in May 2019 and is responsible for building relationships with new emerging and DTC brands, identifying new concepts and trends, and evaluating the strength of these retailers as they move into the real estate domain.
Ruby previously worked at The Maiyet Collective, described by Refinery 29 as ‘fashion’s coolest sustainable store’ and by the Financial Times as ‘the pop-up reinventing eco-fashion’. She sourced, secured and managed partnerships with 80+ brands. Ruby has also worked with L’Estrange London, developing brand partnerships and concept for their first retail ‘Apartment’.
Currently, Ruby also works as a producer on launches and campaigns for digital-first brands such as Away, and luxury labels including Gabriella Hearst. She also serves as an expert for Atelier100, the initiative launched by Ingka Group (the largest IKEA franchisee) and H&M, which funds and mentors emerging and British designers, particularly those with a sustainability focus.
Sarah Mander
Sarah began her career in her homeland Canada before moving to the UK and specialising in retail leasing.
Sarah’s expertise lies in her involvement in prime retail and leisure destinations and understanding the unique value these environments offer to brands in today’s digital world.
Sarah joined Sheila King International in 2024, after 21 years at Hammerson where she was responsible for shopping centre leasing during both the development and investment phases.
Most recently, Sarah led the leasing team at the 158,000 sq. m Bullring Estate, Birmingham formulating the post pandemic leasing strategy, cultivating strong relationships with occupiers and engaging with key stakeholders.
Suzanne Tobias
Suzanne is responsible for client liaison and the administration of the business.
Prior to joining SKI, Suzanne worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch within Corporate Access, as a roadshow and conference manager. She has also undertaken many senior executive assistant roles at leading financial companies, including Credit Suisse and Citigroup.
Tom Horne - Specialist Consultant
Tom co-founded L'Estrange London, a direct to consumer menswear brand on a mission to reduce the amount of clothes we need in our wardrobes. Their simplified clothing system comprises comfortable, seasonless, versatile pieces designed to be worn in any setting. Fewer things, fewer decisions and less impact on the planet.
L’Estrange has been championed by major international publications including Esquire, GQ, Fast Company, The Times who named them “the new smart casual” and was recently listed in the top 100 of the Financial Times list of Europe's Fastest Growing Businesses for 2021. Business Insider also included L'Estrange in their 10 Sustainable Brands to Watch in 2020.
Alongside L’Estrange, Tom consults for Sheila King International and Shaftesbury on the changing face of retail, advising on emerging brands, trends, retail concepts and placemaking.
Sarah Fox - Specialist Consultant
Sarah Fox has both front line experience as a hospitality operator together with an in-depth knowledge of developing Food and Beverage strategies for landlords.
Sarah has worked for 25 years in the hospitality industry in a variety of exciting roles; Operations and Property Director of Costa Coffee; Franchise and Training Director for Yum Brands in Southern Europe, as well as jointly founding, operating and selling her own 8 strong restaurant group, Santa Fe. Sarah’s extensive operational knowledge and strong relationships within hospitality helped her formulate and implement the food and beverage strategy for Hammerson Plc where she worked for 10 years before establishing her specialist consultancy business.
The core of Sarah’s work now entails creating and delivering the food and beverage strategy on several high profile projects and she works alongside Sheila King International to add value to assets.