The joint managing director of Connells subsidiary Sharman Quinney is leaving his role.

Steve Quinney will step down from his role at one of Britain’s most successful regional agencies next week.

His decision to retire will bring to a close over 26 years at the helm of Sharman Quinney, during which the company has grown from one office to a 20-branch network across Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.

Quinney formed Sharman Quinney Mike Sharman in 1989 with the opening of its first branch in Peterborough.

A partnership with the Connells Group, was formed in 2003 enabling Sharman Quinney to grow further.

Highlights for Sharman Quinney include winning ‘Best Medium Estate Agency’ at the National Estate Agency Awards in 2011, launching high end property brand Hurfords and the acquisitions of estate agencies Pattison Lane in 2006 and Gilbert & Thomas in 2015.

Sharman Quinney delivered its best-ever annual profit result in 2015 and has further ambitions to grow and open further residential and lettings offices in the future.

Quinney said: “Sharman Quinney is an authentic and inspiring success story, one that I’m incredibly proud to have been part of and I am so proud of what Mike and I have achieved together.

“Our business has enjoyed more than its fair share of success, delivered outstanding results, adapted to change, produced many great people and helped develop many successful careers.

“Thank you to all those people that have helped build our successful business and to those who will take the business forward to even greater success in the years ahead.”

Mike Sharman, who stays on as managing director, said: “I would like to thank Steve for his outstanding contribution and dedication to the company and his many years of great leadership.

“His leaving marks the end of an era for Sharman Quinney.”