HM Land Registry appoints new chief executive
HM Land Registry has appointed Iain Banfield as its permanent chief executive and chief land registrar following his period as interim chief executive.
Banfield, who has also served as the organisation’s chief financial officer since 2019, will formally take up the role in September.
Before joining HM Land Registry, he held senior positions at the Department for International Trade, UK Trade & Investment, the Shareholder Executive and the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
HM Land Registry said the appointment followed an open recruitment process.
Non-executive chair of HM Land Registry, Neil Sachdev, said: “Iain brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles and his time as both CFO and Interim CEO. I believe he is the right person to lead HM Land Registry through the next phase of its transformation, continuing to improve customer service, modernise the organisation and support the Government’s ambitions for housing and economic growth.
“I would also like to thank colleagues across HM Land Registry whose professionalism, commitment and dedication have enabled the organisation to make strong progress over the past year. The board and I look forward to working with Iain and the whole team as they build on those achievements.”
Banfield added: “I look forward to working with everyone across the sector and within the organisation as we continue on our transformation journey, improving services for customers, working closely with our partners across the property sector, and delivering lasting benefits for all our partners.”
Bradley Hall strengthens Northumberland team with senior appointments
Bradley Hall has expanded its Northumberland office with two senior appointments and a promotion as it grows its residential lettings business.
Lorna White has joined as head of lettings, Northumberland, while Jennifer Neil has been appointed Property Executive. Both join from GFW and will work alongside head of residential lettings Phil Smith.
The firm has also promoted Charlotte Jackson to Branch Manager after two years with the business. Jackson joined Bradley Hall as a Property Executive and will now oversee the Alnwick office.
Bradley Hall said the appointments strengthen its residential lettings, property management and estate agency offering across Northumberland.
Angus Todd, Director at Bradley Hall’s Northumberland office, commented: “It has been a fantastic 12 months for Bradley Hall in Northumberland and these appointments mark another exciting step forward for the office.
“Lorna and Jennifer have built an outstanding reputation across Northumberland over the last 15 years. Their experience, professionalism and extensive local knowledge will allow us to offer specialist residential lettings and property management support in-house, with the team working closely with Phil Smith, head of residential lettings, to provide end-to-end support for landlords and tenants.
“The promotion of Charlotte is thoroughly deserved and is a reflection of the hard work, commitment and enthusiasm she has shown over the last two years. She has developed a fantastic reputation as a proactive, approachable and knowledgeable estate agent and will continue to play an important role in the growth of the office.”
Winkworth appoints franchise operations lead
Winkworth has appointed Jack Spellman as franchise operations lead, with responsibility for supporting the agency’s network of more than 100 franchisees across the UK.
Spellman joins from John Shepherd, part of The Lomond Group, where he spent three years as lettings director. Earlier in his career, he worked for family-run estate agencies before moving to LiFE Residential, the Galliard Homes subsidiary, where he progressed through a number of roles.
In his new position, Spellman will work with franchisees across the Winkworth network, dividing his time between the company’s head office and visits to branches. His role will focus on operational support, communication and helping franchisees develop their businesses.
Winkworth operates a nationwide franchise network covering city, coastal and rural property markets.
Spellman said: “The culture at Winkworth is very open, with a strong family-centric feel. I’m excited to be part of the team and to have the chance to work for such a well-regarded brand. I also relish the opportunity to work with so many franchisees to understand their local market pressures and operational challenges, and to support their ongoing success. Having worked in estate agency for my whole career, I know how it feels to be in their shoes.”
Dominic Agace, chief executive at Winkworth, commented: “We are so pleased to welcome Jack to the team. His extensive experience and invaluable expertise will be fundamental to the success and strength of our 100+ franchises over the coming years. Collaboration and support always remain at the heart of the Winkworth approach, and Jack’s role as franchise operations lead is key to enabling that.”
