Knight Frank appoints new group CFO
Knight Frank has appointed Chris Davis as group chief financial officer and a member of its Group Executive Board.
Davis, who previously served as Knight Frank’s interim group CFO, takes the permanent position following a competitive selection process.
He will lead the property consultancy’s global finance function, with responsibility for financial performance and supporting the delivery of the firm’s international strategy.
Davis has more than 24 years of international business experience and has held a number of CFO and board-level positions.
Before joining Knight Frank, he held CFO roles at Marlet Property Group and G.Network and served as chief restructuring officer and board director at Hilding Anders.
He also spent a decade as an equity partner at AlixPartners and THM Partners.
Davis will undertake a transitional period before formally assuming the role, working with colleagues across the partnership as responsibilities are handed over.
Davis said: “This is an exciting time to be stepping into the role of Group CFO at Knight Frank. The role is evolving, requiring an increasingly sophisticated understanding of data-led decision-making and commercial forecasting. Knight Frank is primed for growth and I am looking forward to helping deliver this.”
William Beardmore-Gray, senior partner and group chair of Knight Frank, commented: “Chris has already demonstrated an excellent understanding of our business and shown impressive leadership ability. He brings a strong track record of CFO experience and is well positioned to steer Knight Frank into its next chapter of growth.”
Cavendish makes trio of promotions across sales and lettings
Cavendish has promoted three members of staff at its Grosvenor Street office in Chester, covering roles across sales progression and lettings.
Emily Pickering has moved from sales progressor to senior sales progressor, while Daniel Owen becomes lettings operations manager. Annie O’Brien has taken on the role of lettings development manager.
Pickering joined Cavendish in 2025 as the agency’s first dedicated sales progressor. She previously trained as a lawyer and worked for a law firm in Chester.
Her role focuses on progressing transactions and helping sellers move through the conveyancing process.
Owen will take on greater operational responsibility within the lettings department. His remit includes overseeing processes and improving consistency across the operation.
O’Brien moves from Cavendish’s Mold office, where she worked as lettings manager. Her new position will focus on developing and growing the agency’s lettings business.
David Adams, Cavendish’s managing director, said: “The promotions are all about recognising the contribution each of them is already making to the business, while also giving them greater responsibility as we continue to grow and strengthen the team.
“Emily has made a real impact within sales progression and has consistently shown a strong focus on keeping transactions moving, communicating with clients and helping get sales through to completion.
“Her promotion reflects the level she is already operating at and strengthens an increasingly important part of the sales business.
“Daniel’s new role recognises his increasing involvement in the operational side of lettings, a key role in helping to ensure we are able to deliver the highest possible levels of customer service.
“Annie has played a big part in developing the lettings side of the business, particularly around winning new instructions and building relationships with landlords.
“Her new role gives her greater responsibility for helping us grow the portfolio and develop new business opportunities.”
Cavendish has announced a further promotion in its Mold office with Sophie Lewis becoming senior lettings negotiator and valuer.
Adams added: “The promotions are particularly pleasing because all of them have come from within the existing team.
“This fits with our ethos of wanting to keep developing our people internally and giving them opportunities to progress their careers with Cavendish.”
Former Housing Ombudsman executive joins AI dispute resolution firm
Former Housing Ombudsman senior executive Jennifer Ryans has joined AI-enabled dispute resolution platform Ctrl AI as director of strategic partnerships for housing and alternative dispute resolution.
Ryans will lead the firm’s partnerships across the housing, ombudsman and wider dispute resolution sectors as Ctrl AI looks to expand its presence in the market.
She previously served as head of dispute resolution at the Housing Ombudsman and was deputy chief operating officer at the Pensions Ombudsman.
Ryans is also a non-executive director at The Property Ombudsman, a position she will retain alongside her new role.
Her appointment comes ahead of the next phase of Awaab’s Law, which is due to take effect on 30 November 2026 and will extend legal requirements for social landlords to investigate and address a wider range of housing hazards within specified timescales.
Housing providers are preparing for the additional compliance and complaint-handling requirements arising from the changes, while ombudsman and alternative dispute resolution services are also dealing with growing caseloads.
In her new role, Ryans will work with organisations considering the use of AI to manage dispute resolution, complaints and associated administrative processes.
Ctrl AI said the appointment would also provide the business with additional housing-sector expertise as it expands its work with housing providers and dispute resolution organisations.
Anup Kollanethu, co-founder and CEO, Ctrl AI, said: “Jennifer’s experience is truly unique. She understands the challenges facing housing providers, ombudsman services and dispute resolution organisations from both operational and strategic perspectives.
“As demand for our expertise continues to grow, Jennifer’s insight, credibility and deep sector knowledge will be invaluable in helping clients adopt AI confidently, safely and responsibly. We’re delighted to welcome her to the team.”
Ryans added: “After many years leading change, improving services and driving efficiencies across the ombudsman and housing sectors, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges organisations face in meeting growing demand while maintaining high standards of service. I believe AI has the potential to transform these sectors more profoundly than any change programme I’ve worked on to date.
“I care deeply about these sectors and the people they serve. I’m excited to help organisations realise the benefits of AI while maintaining the trust, fairness and accountability that matter most.”
