Savills boosts country house team

Savills has kicked off 2024 with two key external hires and an internal move into its country house team.

James Toogood has joined from Knight Frank to lead the South and South West regions.

He has 23 years of experience and began his career in Bath, most recently leading Knight Frank’s Bristol office where he advised clients on the sale of prime residential property both in the city and surrounding countryside.

Toogood will be focusing on the country house market above £2m and working closely with the firm’s network of offices across the region including Clifton, Bath, Salisbury, Wimborne, Exeter and Cornwall, while ensuring high-net-worth buyers from around the globe are aware of properties owned by his clients.

Barclay Macfarlane joins the team as director to cover country house sales across the East Anglia region. Macfarlane is based near Long Melford in Suffolk and joins after 16 years at Strutt & Parker.

Charlie Kannreuther who has been with Savills since 2012 joins the Country Department in his new role after six years running Savills North West region.

Kannreuther has 25 years’ experience in the Cheshire property market and has acted in the sale of many best-in-class properties across a range of locations. 

The Savills team of country house specialists now numbers 23 and covers the length and breadth of the UK from the South to Scotland. 

Head of Savills Country Department, Phillippa Dalby-Welsh said; “We are thrilled to step into 2024 by welcoming three industry heavyweights to the team. James, Barclay and Charlie collectively have more than 70 years’ experience between them and an outstanding track record of sales.  Their appointments fulfils our objective to have a regional prime country house specialist providing a direct, personal link to our London and International network operating in every region of the UK. We look forward to strengthening our business in their respective areas this year with a keen focus on delivering an exceptional personal service to clients.”

Andrew Perratt, head of Savills Residential, added: “We are delighted to welcome James and Barclay to the fold. They are exceptional agents who I know will be instrumental in this team’s evolution under Phillippa’s leadership. I’m also thrilled that Charlie has agreed to take on a crucial role within the country house department. The bolstered team has a very impressive track record, a wealth of experience and they care dearly about their clients.”