Lee Wainwright has been promoted to the role of chief executive officer of Purplebricks UK, the firm told the Stock Exchange this morning.

The appointment comes  less than a year after Wainwright was recruited as chief operations officer, on March 15, 2017.

He takes up his new role in charge of Purplebricks’ UK business with immediate effect. Co-founder Michael Bruce continues as group CEO of what is now an international business, with operations in the US and Australia.

Wainwright previously spent 26 years at Countrywide, where he was a divisional managing director for 12 years with responsibility for the growth and strategic development of a number of their brands and divisions.

He joined Countrywide as a trainee estate agent direct from school and was latterly managing director of Bairstow Eves and Mann London. He left at the end of 2016, amid a significant number of high-level departures in a re-structure of Countrywide.

As chief operations officer of Purplebricks, he has overseen the development of the company’s operational and customer service teams and systems.

He has also played a key role in the recruitment and training of over 300 Local Property Experts, has overseen the launch of the firm’s concierge service and the growth of its post sales support and conveyancing sales teams.

Michael Bruce, group chief executive, said: “We are very fortunate to have someone of Lee’s experience and track record in the industry heading up our UK business.

“He brings with him extensive leadership and industry expertise from his senior roles at Countrywide, and has already demonstrated his value in his time as COO at Purplebricks.

“Having grown to be one of the leading estate agents in the country in such a short period of time brings with it the need to develop and scale‐up our people and capabilities in customer service, recruitment, training, and build a broader business offering.

“We are committed to delivering the highest levels of customer service through a resourceful and agile technology platform and our talented pool of employees and management. I believe that Lee is the best person to lead this expansion and to grow the strong culture that exists in our special business.”