Strutt & Parker announces new estates and farm agency leadership team
Strutt & Parker has announced changes to its estates and farm agency leadership team, promoting Sam Holt to head of estates and farm agency and Will Whittaker to the role of head of national estates and farm agency. The pair will be responsible for continuing to grow Strutt & Parker’s successful farm agency business.
Completing a trio of promotions, Juliette Burt is also appointed as head of the Cotswolds and West Midlands region for the estates and farm agency department.
Holt has worked for Strutt & Parker for 13 years and has been head of the eastern region of the farm agency department since 2021. He is highly regarded within the industry having an extensive network and considerable experience in acting on behalf of, and working with, private clients, charities and institutions.
In 2023, he personally advised on over 12,000 acres of farmland transactions. As head of the estates and farm agency department he oversees a team of around 18 specialist farm agents based across the UK.
Whittaker has also worked for Strutt & Parker for more than a decade and as a member of the national estates and farm agency team, which is based in London, has been responsible for the sale and purchase of many significant farms and estates across England and Wales. The national team has a UK-wide view of the land market and specialises in transactions of high-value, high-acreage properties, leveraging strong connections to domestic and international buyers.
Whittaker continues to work alongside Mark McAndrew – recently named on the Spear’s 500 list as one of the best country property specialists – who has previously led the National team.
Guy Robinson, head of residential agency at Strutt & Parker, commented: “The appointment of both Sam and Will to senior leadership roles in our farm agency business underscores our commitment to nurturing talent within our teams. They are both highly experienced farm agents with a proven track record of leading teams and delivering exceptional advice and service to clients.
“We see great opportunities in the market for farmland, which remains amazingly resilient, despite some economic headwinds. The agricultural industry has had a challenging year because of extreme weather, but average prices for farmland are at record levels and there are still plenty of buyers who want to buy land for a wide range of reasons.”
Strutt & Parker’s team of dedicated farm agents is one of the largest and most successful in the country. Located across the UK, they offer clients a combination of detailed local knowledge, national perspective and extensive global connections.
Juliette Burt, who is now head of the Cotswolds and West Midlands region, joined Strutt & Parker’s estates and farm agency team eight years ago. Working from both the Oxford and Cirencester offices, she has quickly built up an impressive track record of transactions in a competitive market. Prior to that, she worked as a rural surveyor in Gloucestershire. Juliette will be dividing her time between the offices in Oxford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cirencester and Banbury, allowing the team to further strengthen its presence across the region.
The estates and farm agency team is supported by other departments within Strutt & Parker, including its Research team, which produces market-leading analysis of trends in the agricultural land market based on one of the most comprehensive datasets available.
Adam Oldfield appointed MD of Phoebus Software
Adam Oldfield has been promoted to managing director of Phoebus Software, effective from the 1st July 2024, as Paul Hunt becomes vice chair of the board of directors.
Oldfield joined Phoebus five years ago as head of sales and account management. He was then promoted to chief revenue officer, a role he has held for the past 18 months.
Oldfield has worked in the mortgage industry for over twenty years and has increasingly become instrumental in the growth and direction of Phoebus.
After over ten years as chief executive officer and twenty years within the business, Paul Hunt is now transitioning to become vice chairman of the board.
During his tenure, Hunt has been heavily involved with the firm’s expansion and growth from a relatively small company twenty years ago to the point where it now has 140 staff and more £110bn assets under management while it provides the servicing software for more than 25 leading banks, building societies, savings institutions and third-party service providers.
Hunt commented: “Phoebus is the most fantastic company. We have wonderful people and a great culture. The business and its people care about more than just providing the best service and best product they can, but really believe in giving back to the community while minimising the impact we have on the environment.
“It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of Phoebus for the past twenty years, and I aim to continue to make a positive difference but from a different position on the board. I know I am leaving the position of managing director in very capable hands with Adam at the helm, which makes it easier to make the change. In the five years he has been in the business, Adam has made a significant and positive difference both to our clients and to Phoebus as a whole. As the next managing director, I know Adam will drive Phoebus forward successfully to even bigger and better things.”
Oldfield, said: “It is my absolute pleasure to take over as managing director of Phoebus. I’d like to thank Paul for the leadership and direction he has provided over the past twenty years. He leaves very big shoes to fill and if I achieve even half of what he has it will be a success.
“Phoebus is an inspirational company to be a part of with some of the best staff in the industry. We have a great vision for taking the company forward and will continue the growth trajectory that Paul has taken us on so far. Our ambition is to continue to develop and grow and provide the best mortgage and savings servicing software in the UK and across Europe.”
John Ennis joins LonRes board as a non-executive director
LonRes has announced that John Ennis, chief revenue officer at Lomond, has joined its board as a non-executive director.
Ennis, who spent 23 years working at Foxtons, before moving on t0 Chestertons in 2022, is a board member of CLEA (Central London Estate Agents). In May 2024, he joined Lomond, one of the UK’s largest acquirers of estate and lettings agency businesses, as CRO.
Ennis said: “I have been a big fan of LonRes for many years and logging on to the platform is one of the first things I do every morning. It is an essential tool and enables agents to share and do business in a professional and collaborative way. Its quality and data are by far the most detailed and comprehensive of all the platforms out there.
“I’m looking forward to working with the board to help grow and develop this market-leading product even further.”
Anthony Payne, managing director of LonRes, commented: “We are delighted that John has agreed to join the LonRes board. He brings with him a wealth of experience. He understands not just the property market but the business of agency too.
“His undisputed knowledge of the sector, his energy and vision will add to the strength of the LonRes board and ultimately benefit LonRes subscribers too. The LonRes board extends its warmest welcome to him and we look forward enormously to working together.”
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