Property Jobs Today - a new agency and plenty of other key moves...

Hello and welcome to a new working week, which means your chance to catch up on the key moves in our industry.

Remember you can be part of this by letting us know what’s happening in your agency or supplier - please get in touch on press@estateagenttoday.co.uk.

So let’s start in prime central London with news of a brand new buying agency -  Ackroyd & Co.

Building on the legacy of the buying agency VanHan, former VanHan director Hannah Ackroyd, joined by former VanHan colleague Sophie Bonsor, has launched Ackroyd & Co, which is described as “an exceptional boutique property advisory.”

Based in Mayfair the firm aims to work for UK and overseas private individuals, family offices, investors and developers.

“We feel incredibly honoured that almost every one of our clients has come with us from VanHan” explains Hannah. “It means everything to us. The calibre of our previous clients has helped solidify our strong track record, which enables us to negotiate much more firmly on behalf of existing and future clients.”

“For the average client, we might preview 40 - 50 properties,” says Hannah (pictured), “and we’ve each been doing this for over 10 years, so we really do know many of the best properties inside and out.”

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Moving to another capital, Edinburgh, independent chartered surveying firm DM Hall has appointed Kerry Boyle as a business sales agent based in that city.

Kerry says: “In my previous role at Countrywide estate agents’ Glasgow West End branch I was solely responsible for managing a complex portfolio of over 300 properties that required me to build strong client relationships and to deliver successfully an efficient service to my new client base. I intend to bring that quality to my new role at DM Hall.”

Before joining her previous employer, Kerry worked in business transfer roles with auction sales businesses Jacob and Jones and Future Property Auctions.

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And talking of Countrywide, the agency group has announced Mark Shuttleworth as a non-executive director and, from January 1, he’s to be the chair of the company's Audit and Risk Committee.

Peter Long, executive chairman of Countrywide, says: “I'm delighted to welcome Mark to the Board of Countrywide plc. He is a highly experienced and established finance leader with experience in public companies across the FTSE and Middle Eastern Exchanges.  Mark brings substantial restructuring and turnaround expertise”.

Good luck to Mark - the industry is rooting for the survival of Countrywide.

Now let’s see what’s happening at one of the North East’s leading property firms as it expands its specialist new homes department.

Nicola Osborne (pictured left) joins Bradley Hall as corporate client director following work at Sanderson Young, Knight Frank, and Grainger PLC. 

She will also be joined by Kathryn Kent (pictured right), who has been promoted from her role as branch manager to new homes manager.

Nicola says: “I am proud to introduce my longstanding clients and business contacts to the firm and its expert team. The Bradley Hall service is outstanding, and I look forward to supporting head of land and development, Jonathan Rudge, and director of estate agency, Matt Hoy, in their ‘field to finish’ approach for developer clients of all sizes.”

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In the westcountry the Weston-super-Mare property consultancy Mcilroy Smith has named Rebecca Hunt as the associate to head up the firm’s residential division. 

Becky has more than 10 years’ experience, joins the business from one of the region’s largest property management companies, where she headed a team of eight managers whilst personally handling a number of residential blocks across the westcountry. 

“I’ll be taking a hands-on role as we develop our portfolio and I am looking forward to meeting property owners from across the area who require personable help and support with their management. I believe in leading from the front, and directly managing sections of the property portfolio keeps me up to speed with the latest regulations and developments within a fast-moving sector” explains Becky.

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There's a new face AskPorter, the property management and concierge service.

Curran McKay has joined as chief commercial officer, responsible for leading the sales, business development and commercialisation of the company.

His most recent role was director of business development at Canopy, where he led on take-up of the company’s RentPassport scheme, allowing renters to purchase an insurance policy in place of a cash deposit. 

He also masterminded a successful bid for the HM Treasury’s Rent Recognition Challenge, worth £100,000, to develop a system to help tenants improve their credit scores by paying rent on time.

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Finally this week let’s spread our wings and congratulate Isabella Po on becoming head of lettings for CBRE in Hong Kong.

Isabella joins the business from Benham and Reeves, where she spent over five years developing a successful lettings business in Hong Kong, establishing herself as a leading agent. 

In her new role, Isabella will be responsible for the day to day management of the residential lettings business in Hong Kong, working closely with regional clients and securing the link between CBRE’s London and Asia residential teams. 

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There’s clearly a lot going on in our industry this autumn, so do please keep us in touch with what your firm is doing.  We’re back next Monday, so until then…