John Durrant of DCTR makes way for new MD

DCTR, the property marketing studio best known for its Doctor Photo platform, has announced that John Durrant, founder and managing director, will be stepping back to take on an advisory role after leading the business since 2016 and following 54 years in the property industry.

He will hand over to his son, Tom Durrant, who will take on the role of managing director.

John Durant said, “I’ve lived for the property industry for nearly 54-years, and I’ve seen how it has evolved. Just look, for example, at how property marketing has moved on in that time from text-only sales particulars to what DCTR is currently producing to help agents to improve images and videos of homes that are viewed on HD screens around the world.

“Add to that what DCTR is building today including CGI animations and virtual reality constructs of properties where not even a brick has been laid and you’ll see that the property industry is developing in a positive way.

“I look back and realise how lucky I’ve been to play my part in this and to participate in other minor

ways serving the industry. I’ve served on the NAEA, judged property awards, won awards, created several businesses – Doctor Photo was a world’s-first – taught photography to thousands of agents and authored the 12,000-word RICS Property Photography Guidance. Not bad for the lad who left school with just O-Level Art! Property has been exceptionally generous to me.

“Tom is, as well as being my son, the only person I’d want steering the ship. DCTR is growing at such a fast rate because of his vision, courage, and commitment to excellence and it must be said because of his learned knowledge and experiences in international marketing.”

He added: “I’ll continue to remain a Board member and director helping with business strategy and I’ll still be accessible to any customers who I have worked with over the years.

“I’ll also work on special projects like managing the launch of our new platform, The Studio – coming soon. What will I do with the time that’s left to me? I’ll probably dream of the future for property marketing and bug Tom with my next big ideas.”

Leaders Romans Group – promotions update

Boyer, part of Leaders Romans Group, has announced new promotions.

Alice Moore has been promoted from Planner to Senior Planner in the London office. She has been with Boyer since 2018, where she started as a graduate planner, working up to her new position.

Clodagh Meehan-Macken has been promoted from Graduate Planner to Planner in the Cardiff office. Joining Boyer in 2020, Clodagh previously acted as Graduate Planner for RPS upon earning an MSc in Urban, Community and Regional Planning from Cardiff University.

Alexandra Bamford has been promoted graduate planner to planner in the London office. Bamford has been with Boyer since 2019.

Lucy Anderson has been promoted from senior planner to principal planner in the Wokingham Office. She joined Boyer in 2017 as a graduate planner after completing her MPlan in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of Sheffield.

Shavran Kamath has been promoted from urban designer to senior urban designer in the London office.

Tophat appoints former McLaren Group boss as CFO

Goldman Sachs-backed modular housing company, TopHat has announced the appointment of Paul Buddin as its new chief financial officer (CFO).

Buddin joins TopHat from McLaren Group, where he was previously CFO. He grew McLaren Automotive – now a wholly owned subsidiary of McLaren Group following its recombination with Racing and Applied Technologies in 2017 – from a business achieving a £6m turnover and producing zero cars in 2010, to one that posted turnover worth £1.25bn and rolled 4,662 cars off its production lines in 2019.

He will be responsible for ensuring TopHat secures funding for the company’s rapid expansion plans as it looks to increase the delivery of housing across the UK by harnessing artificial intelligence, precision-engineering techniques and robotics.

Buddin said: “Reaching net-zero in housing will require a joint effort from the government and the private sector. Through grants and other incentives, policymakers have done a great job in encouraging more consumers to make the switch to electric vehicles in the last 10 years. As a result, it’s estimated that by 2022 the extra cost of manufacturing battery powered cars versus fossil fuel equivalents will diminish to £1,470.

“Ministers should now strive to replicate such successes, to help clean up housing’s act and achieve the economies of scale in production that will help bring down upfront costs that will be needed to help ensure the transition is accessible to all consumers.”