Property Jobs Today - many top industry names on the move this week ...

Hello and welcome to this week’s Property Jobs Today - the every-Monday round-up of key moves within the industry.

Let us know what you’re doing by emailing press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and you could be in next week’s edition.

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We start with news reported just this morning that Eric Walker has quit as managing director of Belvoir - a role he took up only last year.

He took up his role after Northwood was sold to Belvoir in 2016; at that time, Eric was managing director of the acquired company.

Belvoir says this unexpected departure was "on amicable terms."

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Another departure is Nick Wright, group chief financial officer at Andrews Property Group, who’s leaving the firm after a remarkable 32 years.

Nick joined the business when it relocated its head office to the south west from London in 1987. At the age of 27, he was the firm’s youngest ever director and his tenure makes him the longest standing Director in Andrews’ 73-year history.  

Speaking of Nick’s retirement, group chief executive David Westgate says: “Nick’s role has been one of the most critical roles in the company and he has been pivotal in helping steer the business through significant changes and developments – all of which he’s done with a level head.

“He will be sorely missed by the entire Andrews’ team, but having worked with seven different chairmen and a total of 39 directors, his retirement is thoroughly deserved.”

 In addition to his main business responsibilities, Nick has been a trustee and treasurer of the charitable trusts which own Andrews, as well as serving on five of the charities that Andrews Charitable Trust has supported over the years.

Nick himself says: “It is truly an honour to have spent so much of my career at a business as special as Andrews. Andrews is unique within the property sector and I am confident that its approach to business will serve it well as it moves forward in increasingly changing and, at times, challenging times.”

Brett Ford who has worked with, and been mentored by, Nick for over 12 years will continue as group financial controller with additional senior team support to ease the transition period. 

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There’s a standing down at Rightmove, too, where it’s been announced that Scott Forbes will depart as chairman next year. He joined the portal back in 2005.

Two other key staff have left Rightmove recently, too - they’re former head of agency sales Jason Bushby and northern director for agency Stewart Mussett.

Some familiar names from British agency are now moving their expertise overseas - to the UAE Property Monitor, to be precise. This is a Middle Eastern real estate intelligence platform with links to our own Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

New board of director members include Alan Gearing (right), a non-exec director of Rightmove and boasting 40 years of UK agency experience.

With him is Mark Witherspoon (left), a former Zoopla data services director and a major figure at Hometrack before it was snapped up by Zoopla.

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There’s a new appointment too at residential property management company Rendall & Rittner, where John Bromilow has become the new chief information officer.

John, who joins as a board director, is an IT leader, innovator and digital transformation specialist with experience in delivering commercially-focused business change within the property and construction sector.

His career includes four years at ISG plc as Group Technology Director and 12 years with Balfour Beatty in roles including Head of IT and Global IT Director.

“There’s a real potential to make an impact and add value to help drive business improvement through the use of technology.  In particular I am looking forward to helping further our service delivery for clients together with developing technology to help employees to continue to deliver the best service possible” says John.

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That’s it for this week: keep in touch and remember, there’s another PJT next Monday. So until then…