Lomond appoints Neil McGimpsey as COO
Neil McGimpsey has joined Lomond as chief operating officer (COO) bringing a wealth of experience across the sector, most recently from Druce & Co where he served as CEO for the past three years.
Prior to his time at Druce & Co, McGimpsey spent 15 years at Foxtons, working various roles including operations director of new homes and investments and area director, new homes, investment and development consultancy.
The news of McGimpsey’s hire comes as Lucy Jones, Chief Operating Officer (COO), announces she has decided to step down from her role after five years at the end of the year, to pursue new opportunities.
Jones played a pivotal role in Lomond’s ambitious growth journey during her time and was a hugely instrumental part of the team. Only three years ago, the Lomond HQ in London had just two desks – one for Jones, and the other for Ed Phillips, Group Chief Executive. Now, Lomond has expanded its HQ team to 120, with Jones very much one of the core team members at the helm of this growth trajectory.
Alongside her remit as COO, Jones’ other key achievements include founding Lomond Women, the employee resource group aimed at championing the careers and opportunities of women across the group, and also the Lomond Investment Management (LIM) arm of the business, which services the group’s institutional investor client base.
Ed Phillips, group chief executive, said: “Lucy has been an invaluable part of the senior leadership team at Lomond throughout her tenure here, contributing greatly to the success and development of the Group thus far, as well as being the driving force behind many of our key achievements. Lucy committed to supporting the transition of the business this year, following our partnership with ICG and can now successfully hand the reins over to Neil. She is also a good friend to many of us, and we thank her sincerely for her hard work, commitment and positive impact over the years.”
“At the same time, I’m delighted to welcome Neil McGimpsey to the team. Neil’s wealth of experience in our sector makes him well placed to join us here at Lomond, and we’re really looking forward to having Neil on board.”
Jones commented: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished during my time at Lomond and being part of the incredible growth journey over the past five years. I’ll be eager to see Lomond continue to grow and thrive with such strong leadership and a staff of the highest calibre.”
McGimpsey added: “The group has built a strong reputation, a clear strategic vision and a talented team, and I’m looking forward to helping drive the next phase of expansion and innovation. Building on the excellent work already achieved, I’m excited to work with colleagues across the business to deliver continued success for our clients and partners.”
Spicerhaart appoints performance director
Spicerhaart has created a new Performance Director role to accelerate growth across its divisions.
Lynsey Hall will head up the performance of Spicerhaart’s Taurus Chapter, which includes brands haart, Butters John Bee, Darlows and Haybrook.
Based in the West Midlands, Hall brings nearly 30 years of property experience, including 13 years with Countrywide and Connells Group, where she led national training and development programmes.
Hall’s appointment represents a strategic shift into a more operational role at Spicerhaart – one designed to drive branch and adviser performance while ensuring every individual reaches their potential.
Hall said: “Everything that I do from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed is to ensure that people are confident and competent in what they do, that they enjoy the job they do, and that they have somebody they know they can go to at any time.”
Spicerhaart hope that Hall’s role will complement the Spicerhaart Training Academy which the company says has upskilled more than 1,000 trainees in its first year. Initially she will take accountability for the results of sales advisers, whether new or established, and develop their skills further.
Hall added: “This is an incredibly exciting challenge because it’s a new strategy for Spicerhaart. The sales adviser role only came into being in 2025, so it’s an opportunity to make a massive difference in how we drive performance.
“I’ve worked in property for nearly 30 years and still love it just as much as when I handed over my first set of keys. Helping people through one of the biggest milestones in their lives is so rewarding – you can really make a difference. Spicerhaart feels personal. Everyone I’ve met has been warm, welcoming and genuinely passionate about what they do. I’m thrilled to be part of that.”
Working closely with branch managers and area directors, Hall will focus on embedding consistent standards, improving productivity and identifying opportunities for growth.
Keiron Humphreys, Chapter MD at Spicerhaart, said: “Lynsey’s experience, energy and passion for developing people make her a superb addition to our Taurus leadership team. She brings a strategic mindset with a very human approach – the perfect blend for a performance-driven business like ours.”
Joe Sarling joins Colliers’ Residential and Living team
Sarling appointed director in the newly structured team
London| 10 December 2025 – Colliers has welcomed Joe Sarling as a director in its Residential and Living team, focussing on Living Capital Markets, to provide clients with strong market intelligence and strategic advice across the sector.
Joe brings extensive experience in economic analysis, housing policy and planning, having held senior roles at Homes England, the National Housing Federation and Lichfields. His appointment aligns with Colliers recently announced Residential and Living team restructure, which is designed to provide clients with a truly integrated, client-centric approach across the full spectrum of living markets.
As the demand for housing in the UK hits a historic peak, the living sector continues to expand with a diversified range of products including build-to-rent (BTR), student housing and co-living to meet consumer demand. Despite economic headwinds and viability challenges, investor demand continues to increase. Joe will help clients navigate investment decisions with confidence in a complex but opportunity-rich UK market.
Jon Bull-Diamond, Head of Residential and Living Capital Markets at Colliers, comments: “Joe is a significant addition to our team. With Joe on board, I’m confident we will give our clients a deeper understanding of issues and solutions in order to support their investment decisions and maximise value.”
Joe Sarling, Director, Living and Residential at Colliers adds: “I’m really excited to be joining the Residential and Living team at Colliers at such an important moment for the housing sector. We’ve seen huge changes to housing and planning policy in recent years and markets across the country are presenting a varied range of opportunities for investment. I’m able to blend robust quantitative analysis with deep economic and market intelligence, with wider strategic trends to allow us to guide clients confidently through and support well-informed decisions.”