British Land general counsel Elaine Williams has left to join UK logistics company Eddie Stobart after just two years in the role.

Williams joined Eddie Stobart as legal director and company secretary last month, almost exactly two years after joining the FTSE 100 property company as its first GC in November 2015.

Prior to joining British Land she was HSBC's deputy company secretary, having joined the bank in early 2011 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she made partner in 2000.

Eddie Stobart's previous legal director Rupert Nichols stepped down at the end of October. He is staying with the company as an executive director and will continue to support the board on issues such as long-term strategic development. 

British Land has appointed former easyJet group company secretary Bruce James as interim company secretary. Previously, James was a consultant at the company for a year, having moved over from easyJet in 2016. 

Williams was involved in putting together British Land's first legal panel in 2015In January 2017, the company confirmed that Hogan Lovells was to take over KWM's position on the roster after the firm's European arm collapsed at the beginning of 2017.

News of Williams' hire comes just seven months after Eddie Stobart listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market in an IPO valuing the business at £572.7m.

King & Spalding acted for Eddie Stobart, while Hogan Lovells represented the underwriters.