Savills appoints new head of office in Knutsford
Savills has strengthened its residential presence in Cheshire with the appointment of Ellis McQueen as head of office at Savills Knutsford, where she will lead the residential sales division.
McQueen brings more than a decade of experience in the property industry and has been part of the Savills Knutsford office, which comprises residential sales and lettings teams, since it first opened its doors in 2018.
McQueen, who is from the local area, said: “It’s a market I know well and genuinely care about, and having been here since the office opened in 2018, I’m excited to maximise the opportunities ahead. Knutsford continues to be a strong, desirable location with growing demand, and I see real potential to build on its success by focusing on collaboration and delivering an amazing service for our clients.”
Cameron Ewer, head of Savills residential business in the North West and Scotland, added: “Ellis is an exceptional agent whose local roots and market knowledge are invaluable. Her passion for the area, coupled with over a decade of hands-on experience within the team and her relationships with clients past and present, make her an excellent choice to lead our Knutsford office. We are delighted to see her step into this role as the office continues to go from strength to strength.”
Darren Bear joins Bidwells as non-executive director
Bidwells has appointed Darren Bear, chief commercial officer at Grant Thornton, as a non-executive director. He joins the firm’s Main Board.
Bear has more than 20 years’ experience in partnership-led professional services, including seven years on the Grant Thornton Board, where he advised businesses and boards on growth and organisational change.
As a non-executive director, Bear will also sit on Bidwells’ Nomination & Remuneration and Investment Committees.
Bear said, “Bidwells operates within the property and professional services sector, a space I know well and one that really interests me. Having spent over 20 years in a large partnership, I see strong parallels with Grant Thornton, particularly in the importance of culture, values and long-term thinking. Bidwells has a clear growth ambition and mindset, and after meeting the senior team it was obvious this is a business with great people and a strong sense of purpose. I’m excited to contribute my experience as the firm moves into its next phase of growth.”
Nick Pettit, Senior Partner at Bidwells, added, “Darren’s appointment is a significant addition to our Board at an important moment for the firm. His deep experience of partnership governance, board-level decision-making and scaling professional services businesses will be invaluable as we deliver our Nexus 2030 strategy. He brings exactly the kind of external perspective, challenge and commercial insight we need as we continue to grow.”
Foxtons announces board change
Foxtons has announced that Rosie Shapland, senior independent director and chair of the Audit Committee, will retire as a director of the company following the publication of the company’s interim results for the year ending 31 December 2026.
The board has commenced the recruitment process for a new non-executive director and will make a further announcement as soon as practicable. An orderly handover is planned as part of the non-executive director onboarding process.
The board has thanked Shapland for her commitment and significant contribution to the company over the last six years.