Belvoir has announced that after over five years of service, Nick Leeming is stepping down as none-executive director with effect from April 10.

Leeming, 63, will be replaced by Michael Stoop, 62.

Stoop, who started his career with Winkworth and was instrumental in the setting up of Legal & General’s estate agency franchising – Xperience – is vice-chairman of TPO.

Leeming, like Stoop, is something of an industry hero.

Leeming is known for having pioneered the UK property portals movement when, with his brother, he started Propertyfinder which, through various incarnations, has morphed into ZPG.