Who we are

HIGHLY EXPERIENCED DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Launched in 2016, the company was created to combine the strengths of the founder, Ben Ward, along with our investors, whose previous experience focused on Warehouses and Logistics.

The team has a wealth of experience in delivering a diverse range of successful developments. The company has grown and as a result has secured and delivered a variety of exciting projects.

Rula are constantly searching for fresh development and investment opportunities. We would be delighted to hear from you with any ideas.

Please get in touch with one of the team…

Ben Ward

Position: Managing Director

Ben, Founder and Managing Director of Rula Developments oversees all aspects of Rula Developments from conception to completion. He is responsible for sourcing and structuring new acquisitions and joint ventures, while also leading the day-to-day management of the business.

Ben started his career over 20 years ago and latterly worked at Henry Boot Developments Ltd as a main Board Director based in Sheffield.

His expertise spans the whole investment and development process, from funding, purchase and sale, through to design, planning, financial appraisal and leasing.

Ben has significant experience in assembling and successfully delivering investment and development projects in multiple sectors including indstrial and office, through to large-scale mixed use and residential.

Ben Ward

Managing Director

Ben, Founder and Managing Director of Rula Developments oversees all...

Mark Hawthorne

Position: Development Director

Mark is the Development Director at Rula Developments joining the company in October 2017. A qualified chartered surveyor with over 25 years of experience having spent the last 18 years working in Commercial Development and previously working as a Commercial Agent in Nottingham for 7 years with various well-known firms.

Mark has a wide variety of experience in the delivery of multiple Industrial Warehouse units, offices as well as roadside and retail schemes. Mark has experience working across the UK but has gained most of his experience in the greater Midlands and South Yorkshire areas.

Mark has been involved with and overseen all aspects of the development process, including site assembly, acquisition, planning, letting, and funding. He has been directly involved with a variety of commercial development projects, extending to over 2 million square feet which includes the delivery of over 1.5m sq. ft. of industrial development as well as several retail schemes, to include the delivery of a 115,000 sq ft Out of town retail scheme in North Lincolnshire, as well as a variety of small office developments.

Mark Hawthorne

Development Director

Mark is the Development Director at Rula Developments joining the...

Anthony Clitheroe

Position: Development Director

Anthony has over 14 years post-qualification experience in development, consultancy and agency, latterly as a Director at HBD. He has a specialism in industrial and logistics build to suit and forward funding transactions, particularly as part of public–private sector partnerships involving complex development sites and multiple stakeholders.

He has amassed extensive experience of leading on the simultaneous delivery of multiple projects including site assembly and acquisition; the preparation and implementation of planning and delivery strategies; negotiating terms with end occupiers; marketing; development management, procurement, planning, financial appraisals and funding.

Anthony Clitheroe

Development Director

Anthony has over 14 years post-qualification experience in development, consultancy...

Richard Morgan-Jones

Position: Finance Director

Richard is a Chartered Accountant who qualified with Touche Ross, now part of Deloitte.
Richard’s career has been mainly in the logistics sector, formerly with Transport Development Group plc, and latterly as Financial Controller and Company Secretary of Great Bear Distribution Limited.
Richard now represents Coda Investments, a family office based in the North West of England, who support several growing businesses and, as such, is responsible for the accounting function and financial compliance of a range of businesses in a variety of business sectors including Rula Developments.

Richard Morgan-Jones

Finance Director

Richard is a Chartered Accountant who qualified with Touche Ross,...

Richard Burns

Position: Project Director

Richard is Project Management Director and has been with Rula since inception.  He focusses on procurement and supports the development team across Rula’s portfolio of work from initial enquiry to project completion.

Richard has over 35 years experience of project managing over £1b of construction value projects across a range of sectors.  He spent 10 years in government procurement with Barnsley Council, regenerating coalfield sites to bring forward industrial employment land.   He has spent 20 years with Scarborough Group delivering mixed use, commercial, retail and leisure, city centre residential as well as major infrastructure projects across the UK.

During his career Richard has been part of and managed teams that have delivered many high value commercial projects across the UK. These include a retail and leisure destination, a commercial office scheme, a shopping centre extension and major infrastructure projects.  

Focussing now on Rulas expansive industrial development portfolio Richard has already seen to completion a number of key projects on strategic sites for the Group as we assemble land opportunities and bring forward investment to see the current development portfolio delivered for our Clients.

Richard Burns

Project Director

Richard is Project Management Director and has been with Rula...

Roisin Davies

Position: Development Manager

Roisin joined Rula Developments as Development Manager in 2024 to support the development directors in identifying and securing new strategic land and development sites alongside the delivery of industrial and logistics projects. 

Roisin has over 10 years post-qualification experience in development. During her career she has been involved in a variety of commercial development projects, including mixed use development schemes and industrial parks across Yorkshire. In recent years Roisin has focused on securing strategic land opportunities specialising in partnership structures and managing the promotion of land and development delivery. 

 

Roisin Davies

Development Manager

Roisin joined Rula Developments as Development Manager in 2024 to...

logo