UK Sotheby’s International Realty appoints Claire Reynolds as managing director

United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has named Claire Reynolds as managing director.

Reynolds joins UK Sotheby’s International Realty after a 19-year career at Savills, where she was co-head of prime central London managing seven offices and sat on the UK residential operations board.

Reynolds said: “The recent growth and expansion across prime central London is indicative of the ambition and vision here [at Sotheby’s International Realty].”

“I look forward to leading this highly respected and talented team of real estate experts as we continue to deliver best-in-class service, and achieve impressive results for our clients in this competitive marketplace.

“My commitment is to build on UK Sotheby’s International Realty’s legacy of excellence by spearheading our shared goal of providing unmatched service and expertise to our discerning clients.”

Reynold’s appointment coincides with a pivotal growth juncture for UK Sotheby’s International Realty, marked by significant expansions in four key London areas. This includes its flagship Mayfair office in Conduit Street, along with strategic additions in St Johns Wood, Knightsbridge and Marylebone.

George Azar, chairman, and CEO of UK Sotheby’s International Realty, commented: “UK Sotheby’s International Realty is not merely experiencing growth, but it is in the midst of a transformative journey, scaling new heights and establishing unparalleled benchmarks in the realm of luxury real estate transactions across prime UK markets.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Claire, who is well positioned to lead the team and business toward an unprecedented level of excellence, setting a gold standard for top-tier service to clients. This marks the dawn of a new era in real estate agency—a responsive approach to market demands that transcends traditional norms in London and beyond. Branded with luxury, with Claire’s stewardship, we are poised to elevate standards and leave an indelible mark on the real estate landscape.”

Savills promotes Victoria Burgin to head of Birmingham office

Savills has announced the promotion of director Victoria Burgin as head of its Birmingham office, with effect from 1 January 2024.

Burgin will take over the head of office role from Simon Farrant who has led Savills Birmingham since the acquisition of Phoenix Beard in 2016. He will remain in a consultancy role with the business.

Burgin heads up the property management team in Birmingham and has led on the mobilisation and management of a number of high profile portfolios and assets for clients. She has also previously been appointed as an arbitrator and independent expert by the RICS for lease consultancy disputes.

Burgin said: “I am very much looking forward to taking on the new role as head of the Birmingham office. We are already a leading force in the Midlands real estate market and I am excited to shape this further with the support of the significant wealth of expertise we have across a diverse range of disciplines in the office.”

Farrant commented: “I am very proud of the growth we have seen in the Birmingham office over the last seven years having expanded from 120 to 174 staff and moved to a new flagship office at 55 Colmore Row. Victoria has an established reputation in the Birmingham market and I have no doubt that the success of the office will continue to prosper under her leadership.”

Richard Rees, managing director of Savills UK, added: “I would firstly like to thank Simon for his commitment and dedication during his tenure as head of Birmingham and we are very pleased that he will be remaining with the business in a consultancy capacity. We are also very excited to welcome Victoria to her new role and look forward to watching the Birmingham office thrive under her leadership.”

Senior surveyor joins Fisher German’s residential development agency team 

A development surveyor with more than 12 years’ experience in the industry has joined Fisher German as it opens a new office in the heart of Birmingham.

Arthur Morgan has been appointed by the agency as a partner in its residential development agency team and will be based out of the firm’s new office at Fifteen Colmore Row as it looks to take advantage of the opportunities for development in and around the city.

Morgan graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Real Estate Management in 2011, before going onto work for Savills and passing his APC. In 2018, he moved to Cushman & Wakefield working on several significant development schemes for public and private sector clients before joining the partnership at Fisher German.

He said: “I’ve been involved in residential development my entire career, and Fisher German has always been a name held in very high regard in the sector, so I jumped at the chance to join such a great firm.

“The new Birmingham office was a big draw for me too. It will mean we can liaise with clients and fellow firms in the industry much more easily and will put us in a great position to win new work.

“I’ve already been made very welcome by Fisher German’s superb development team and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the wealth of housebuilding opportunities in Birmingham and the Midlands to grow the company further.”

Ben Marshalsay, head of development at Fisher German, commented: “With the Birmingham office opening and housebuilding targets needing to be met across the region, we anticipate there will be a lot of opportunities in the market in the medium to long term.

“We are therefore delighted to welcome Arthur into the team at such an important time.

“He brings with him a whole host of expertise in residential development, and we anticipate he will enable Fisher German to grow its influence quickly in Birmingham and the Midlands.”

Liberty Stones, Head of Planning at Fisher German, added: “Arthur has joined the team at a time where there is a huge need for new homes across the country and, therefore, a need to secure planning permissions for these future developments.

“Planning and development go hand-in-hand, so it is great to have Arthur join us at Fisher German to strengthen the comprehensive service we provide to our clients, from promotion of sites through the Local Plan process, obtaining planning permission, and the final sale of a site.”