King will join in February next year to lead the firm’s sustainability drive across the property and construction sectors.

He replaces Pascal Mittermaier, who is taking up a new not-for-profit position overseas.

King said: “I’m very excited to be joining Lend Lease next year, a global company with sustainability firmly embedded in its core values from the very beginning.

“Sustainability is about meeting the needs and aspirations of people in the future within environmental limits, and Lend Lease’s strategic focus on creating and regenerating the best places in cities around the world means ensuring those places will be genuinely sustainable for generations to come.”

King will be responsible for the European region’s overall sustainability strategy, shaping its implementation and future direction.