Chestertons has shaken up its management team, seemingly removing the chief executive position.

Allan Collins, who was made interim chief executive when Robert Bartlett left last year, has been promoted to deputy chairman of Chestertons Global, while Guy Gittins, previously head of sales, has assumed the role of managing director of the UK.

Collins first joined Chestertons in May 2012 as chief financial officer and became chief executive in March 2017.

His focus will now be on implementing an international strategy to create a strong and progressive global business.

Collins said: “Having turned Chestertons UK into a substantial, strong and growing business, I am delighted to be deputy chairman of the worldwide group.

“We are now well positioned to take the company to the next level, with a fantastic platform for growth.

“I am looking forward to building and drawing together all of the international businesses with the UK entity to create a truly global and seamless business which will benefit all of our clients.”

Gittins was initially the sales director of the Chestertons Chelsea office, but after strengthening the sales department and increasing the branch revenue by 300% in his first year, he was promoted to company sales director in 2015 and then to head of residential sales in 2016.

He said: “I have been afforded a wonderful opportunity to take the business forward in my new role as managing director. In the seven years I have worked for Chestertons, I have seen it change, develop and improve continuously, and I am determined to accelerate this to help the company become more successful.

“The outlook for the second half of the year is positive and I am looking forward to working closely with all departments to find new ways we can create value and help each other improve, whether it is through training, technology, support, or process.”

Meanwhile, Bartlett – whose surprise departure was revealed in a social media post last year when he said he had “gone skiing” – is now described on LinkedIn as founder of investment firm Hardington Capital and as a non-executive director of online lettings agent Rentify.

Bartlett successfully steered the merged business of Chestertons and Humberts through the crash, and then led the de-merger.