UK property developer and investor Development Securities has appointed Nicholas Thomlinson as a non-executive director, with effect from 3 January 2012.

Thomlinson has been a senior partner and chairmen of Knight Frank Group since 2004. He joined Knight Frank after coming down from Oxford University, and spent 10 years in the City office dealing with all aspects of commercial property, before going to Hong Kong to run Knight Frank's office there in 1984.

On his return, he set up what was to be the first office in London Docklands of a major international practice.

In 2000, he took over as head of global residential and in 2004 was appointed senior partner and chairman.