Knight Frank appoints new head of national country department
Knight Frank has appointed Will “Stan” Matthews as head of its national country department, succeeding Edward Rook after a decade in the role.
The London-based team focuses on the upper end of the UK country house market. It averaged more than £400m in annual property sales during Rook’s tenure.
In the first quarter of 2026, the department completed £173m of prime country house sales despite more challenging market conditions.
Rook said: “It has been a privilege to lead the National Country Department over the last 10 years.
“I am incredibly proud of what the team has achieved and the strength of the business we have built together.
“Will is an outstanding agent who understands every aspect of the country market, and I have every confidence that the department will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
Matthews has worked at Knight Frank since 2003. He initially focused on prime country house sales before moving into the farms and estates market.
For the past 14 years, he has advised on rural property transactions across the UK.
Knight Frank appointed Matthews head of its Farms and Estates team in 2022. He will now take responsibility for the national country department as Rook steps down from the position.
Matthews commented: ““The country market remains a key focus, as our clients continue to seek specialist advice across country houses, farms and estates.
“The National Country Department is an outstanding team of experienced agents, and we look forward to building on this success and supporting Knight Frank’s clients across the UK.”
BTG Eddisons recruits senior property adviser from Avison Young
BTG Eddisons has appointed Ian Steele as a director in its property agency team as the consultancy expands its North West operation.
Steele joins after seven years as a principal at Avison Young’s Liverpool office. He previously worked as a senior director at GVA.
He will work alongside property agency directors Robert Diggle and David Baker. His role will focus primarily on the office agency and development markets.
Steele has worked in the North West office market for more than 30 years. His experience covers office development, agency and occupier consultancy across Liverpool and Manchester.
Luke Tillison, head of transactional at BTG Eddisons, said: “He [Steele] is very well established and highly connected in the Liverpool market and brings a strong profile and network with him.
“Ian will play an important role in growing our property agency work in Liverpool and, importantly, in building a stronger development and refurbishment pipeline.”
Steele’s appointment forms part of BTG Eddisons’ wider expansion across the North of England.
The firm already operates property agency teams in Sheffield and Bradford. It is also expanding its agency presence in Manchester.
As part of that growth, associate director Paul Parker is moving from the firm’s auctions team into its Manchester agency operation.
Tillison continued: “BTG Eddisons already has a strong agency team in the city, and Ian’s appointment gives us the scope to build on that, with someone who knows the market exceptionally well. He will also work across Manchester and the wider North West as the agency division grows.
“While his experience is centred on offices and development, Ian has the breadth and expertise to work across the wider market and that flexibility will be invaluable as we continue to develop the business.”
He added: “We’re continuing to invest in experienced people in the key markets across the north and bring that expertise together across the business.
“Ian’s appointment gives us a strong presence in the Liverpool market and creates opportunities to develop our property agency work across the wider North West.”
Cheffins appoints senior valuer to Newmarket office
Cheffins has appointed Matthew Graham as senior valuer at its Newmarket branch as the estate agency looks to strengthen its presence across the town and surrounding villages.
Graham joins from David Burr in Clare, Suffolk, where he spent more than 12 years selling prime residential property across the region.
He has more than 15 years’ experience in estate agency, having previously also worked for agents in Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds.
Based at Cheffins’ Newmarket High Street office, Graham will focus on residential valuations and generating new instructions across Newmarket and neighbouring villages.
“The Newmarket property market is currently active with successful sales in recent months across all price brackets. Buyers tend to come both from locally and further afield and move to Newmarket and the surrounding villages drawn by the area’s lifestyle, schooling, wonderful countryside and relative value for money in comparison to other parts of East Anglia. The market locally has held relatively firm in light of the economic and political turmoil which has characterised other parts of the property industry and we have found that houses are still achieving healthy prices and strong interest, provided they are priced realistically.”
Bruce King, partner, added: “Matthew has an unrivalled understanding of the property market in and around Newmarket, and we are delighted to have him join the Cheffins team. We are looking forward to continuing to grow our presence in Newmarket and the surrounding area and we see the appointment of Matthew as a key part of our expansion.”
