Connells group lettings technical director announces retirement

Connells Group has announced that group lettings technical director Chris Day is retiring, and will step down from his role tomorrow. Day’s decision to retire will bring to a close a remarkable career of nearly 40 years in the property industry.

Day started his career as a chartered surveyor in the early 80’s before moving into the lettings business. He worked as an operations director for a national residential lettings operation for 10 years before joining Connells Group in 2011. He has also been an active member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors industry forum on lettings and management.

In his role with Connells Group, Day has been instrumental in developing systems to enhance the services offered to landlords, tenants and investors throughout the Group’s network of lettings branches.

“On behalf of everyone at Connells Group, I would like to thank Chris for his years of dedication and outstanding contribution to the business,” said Stephen Nation, Connells Group lettings managing director. “We are indebted to him for his contribution which has helped propel us to much success in recent years and wish Chris a long, healthy and happy retirement. He’ll be much missed.”

Henry Adams appoints new chief executive 

Ian Wiggett has been promoted to become chief executive at Henry Adams, which operates in West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire.

Wiggett moves from his current role as managing director of Henry Adams Lettings to take the reins from Philip Jordan, who becomes group chairman. This position was previously vacated by one of the company’s founders, Richard Williscroft. The new positions will take effect from Thursday.

Jordan said: “As part of our succession planning and to further strengthen our senior management structure, I am delighted that Ian Wiggett will be taking up the position as chief executive of Henry Adams.

“Ian has a proven ability to build and lead strong teams and has a clear understanding of the financial aspects in running a thriving business having overseen several mergers and acquisitions and established five lettings centres throughout the Group.”

Wiggett has been an estate agent for over 20 years and joined Henry Adams in Storrington as a Lettings Manager in 2012. He became managing director of Henry Adams Lettings in 2015 and has overseen the expansion of the Group’s lettings business to become one of the largest and most successful in the region.

Wiggett commented: “Henry Adams as a company is the envy of the local marketplace and I am both proud and humbled to be accepting this role. Philip, and before him Richard, along with other senior members of the management team, have driven this company to new heights and I believe we will continue to go from strength to strength.

“Whilst we navigate these uncertain times, I know the exceptional work ethic and experience of every one of our teams will enable us to thrive and continue to keep ourselves both relevant and market leading. There will be many opportunities ahead and we must be ready to grasp these more than ever.”

Wiggett will continue to oversee the lettings operations of Henry Adams within the senior management team and will be working closely with Philip Jordan who will focus on developing and implementing the company’s future growth strategy.

The group operates a network of 16 sales and lettings offices in West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire and provides expertise across a range of specialist disciplines, including land & new homes, agricultural, surveying, planning, holiday cottages, and fine art auctions.

David Wharton joins Savills 

Savills has expanded its building and project consultancy team with the appointment of David Wharton who joins as a director at the firm’s Margaret Street head office in London.

Wharton has more than 25 years’ experience in the property industry as a project manager specialising in industrial and logistics. He joins Savills from multi-disciplinary construction consultancy Lysander where he was a director and key account manager for GLP.

At Savills he will join the London development project management team working alongside Will Cooper.

Wharton commented: “I am very much looking forward to joining the team, which already has an excellent reputation within the industrial and logistics sector. I have worked alongside many of my new colleagues on projects for key clients, including GLP, over the years and it will be great to finally join them on the same side of the table.”

Simon Collett, head of building & project consultancy, added: “We are very pleased to welcome David to Savills. His experience and expertise in the industrial and logistics sector will undoubtedly help to further strengthen our capability and ensure we can continue to offer a best in class service to our clients.”