(For more retail coverage, click GlobeSt.com/RETAIL.)

LONDON-Sir John Ritblat, chairman of British Land and one of thelast great British property tycoons, has revealed his retirement atthe FTSE-100 group's annual meeting. Sir John has led the companyfor 36 years and only months ago delivered a record set offull-year results. He started his career at the age of 16 under thetutelage of the property agent Edward Erdman, after seeing thebomb-ravaged Bond Street and Berkeley Square in the 1950s, whichinspired him to dedicate his life to real estate.

When he became chairman and managing director of British Land in1971 it was a small firm with a euro 29.3-million ($36.7-million)market capitalization. This year, British Land has a market valueof euro 10.02 billion ($12.7 billion) with euro 26.03 billion ($33billion) of property owned or under management. Assets include theBroadgate office complex in the City of London and the Meadowhallshopping center in Sheffield. He took control of the company afterreversing private Union Property Holdings into the group in 1970.Sir John was knighted this year for services to the arts includingthe donation of a rare book collection to the British Library.