Terry Duddy, chief executive of Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group, has opened his account at Hammerson having joined the board of the shopping centre operator in December.
He took 20,000 shares at 394p a time in his first purchase of shares in the company, paying a total of £78,800.
In a trading update in February, Hammerson, whose portfolio includes the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, said it had a much better second half, although a profit for the last six months of the year failed to offset weakness in the first half, leaving the real estate giant nursing a big annual loss.
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The value of Hammerson's portfolio fell 9% in 2009.
"Recently there has been a recovery in property markets, supported by strong investor demand and the policy of central banks supporting financial markets," said chairman John Nelson.
"The economic outlook, however, remains uncertain, and against this background the board intends to maintain a prudent approach to financing."
Duddy became chief executive of the catalogue retailer Argos in 1998 when it was owned by retail giant GUS. Following the demerger of Argos and Homebase from GUS in 2006, he became chief executive of the new company, Home Retail Group.
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