(ShareCast News) - John Townsend has been appointed chairman of Secure Property Developments, the AIM-listed company announced on Thursday.Townsend worked at CBRE where he had been executive director and head of auctions since 2011 until his retirement at the end of 2014.Prior to that he was head of the auction department at Cushman Wakefield from 1996 to 2011.Interim chairman Roger Shane said: "He has extensive knowledge of the property industry which, together with his experience gained from a wide range of clients, will enable him to make a valuable contribution to the Board and the implementation of our new strategy."