Your Move veteran to take helm at Martin & Co’s parent firm

The Property Franchise Group - which owns Martin & Co, EweMove and three other brands - is to have a former Your Move managing director as its chief executive.

Gareth Samples will replace Ian Wilson in the second half of this year, enabling a handover period where they will both be working at the group.

Samples has worked in the agency industry for three decades, much of it at LSL Property Services where he was managing director of Your Move brand - the largest single brand estate agency in the UK at the time. In this role he was responsible for Your Move’s franchise operation as well as having overall control of financial services and lettings and the strategy of the brand.

More recently he has been managing director of digital marketing platform Briefyourmarket.

In a statement to TPFG shareholders Samples says: “The business is at a very exciting stage in its growth strategy with the recent launch of its financial services division alongside a huge opportunity to grow and improve its franchise footprint. I am really looking forward to working with Ian and his team ahead of my formal appointment and I am determined to build further upon the incredible work carried out by Ian and the team.”

Ian Wilson himself adds: “We have benefitted from a tight and stable board since the IPO in December 2013, with no change in chairman, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and this board has proven to be an engine for growth.”