Regional agent names former Purplebricks executive as new CEO

A former senior executive for Boomin and Purplebricks has returned to traditional estate agency.

Tom Kirk, previously chief product officer for Boomin and sales director at Purplebricks, has been named chief executive of Yorkshire estate agent Preston Baker.

He also previously worked for The Agency UK and as a branch manager for Reed Rains and Hunters.

It comes as Preston Baker is moving from an employed agency to a fully self-employed model, with a growing team of self-employed associates.

He said: “I am intensely passionate and committed to providing home movers with the highest standard of estate agency service and this is best achieved with the low volume, high service, personal approach, supported by market-leading technology, that Preston Baker delivers with its new self-employed associate model.

“The support provided to Preston Baker Associates through marketing, technology, mentoring and leadership training, is second-to-none and allows them to concentrate on doing the job of looking after home movers and delivering a premium service, and I am really looking forward to expanding the company further, and recruiting more high calibre Associates.

“Preston Baker is a well-established brand with a fabulous reputation and I am looking to enhance and develop this further.”

Ian Preston, group chief executive of Preston Baker, added: “Tom brings a wealth of agency experience with him that we know will be invaluable in taking Preston Baker Estate Agency to the next level and driving our expansion plans. We are thrilled to have him join us.”