Strutt & Parker appoints new head of valuation following BNP Paribas team transfer
Strutt & Parker has appointed David Couch as head of valuation following the transfer of residential valuation teams from BNP Paribas Real Estate.
The teams moved to Strutt & Parker on 1 October, bringing residential, mixed-use and development valuation services into its existing rural and residential operations.
Couch has more than 30 years’ experience in the property industry. He joined BNP Paribas Real Estate in 1994, initially working in development land agency and consultancy.
Over the past decade, he has specialised in valuation, focusing on residential development, investment and complex property and land assets.
The expanded valuation operation will advise lenders, institutional investors, developers, landowners and public sector organisations.
Its work covers individual residential properties, development sites, rural estates and land with development potential.
Kate Moisson, head of rural at Strutt & Parker, said: “Bringing residential valuation into Strutt & Parker creates a natural fit with our existing rural and residential businesses, allowing us to draw on a broader range of expertise and a deeper understanding of property, land and development more generally.”
She added that Couch would play a key role in developing the firm’s valuation services.
Couch commented: “In an increasingly data-rich market, robust valuation advice depends on the interpretation of that evidence. Understanding local markets, assessing the reliability of the data and applying professional judgement are all essential to arriving at a well-founded view of value.”
The appointment follows several other senior additions to Strutt & Parker’s rural business.
Natalie Gaibani joined as head of farming earlier this year, while Ian Ashbridge strengthened its farm and estate consultancy team.
Other appointments include Alice Rawdon-Mogg and Alastair Deighton in estate management, Mark Stephenson in minerals and environmental services, and Ed Vereker in building consultancy.
Strutt & Parker operates from 20 offices across the UK.
Chestertons promotes George Davey to lead London land and development division
Chestertons has promoted George Davey to head of land, development and investment, expanding his responsibilities across London.
Davey previously oversaw land and development activity in the agency’s North and East London region. His new role will see him work with developers and investors across the capital.
He will advise clients on buying and selling development sites and investment opportunities. His remit also covers development strategy, pricing and exit plans.
Davey joined Chestertons in August 2024 as director of East London developments, focusing on residential schemes across East and South East London.
He has almost 20 years of property industry experience. This includes nearly a decade at Stirling Ackroyd, where he served as managing director of land and new homes.
The appointment follows a period of growth for Chestertons’ residential development business. The agency reports a 36% year-on-year increase across its new homes and capital markets operations.
Davey said: “The best new homes strategies begin long before a development launches. Developers need to understand a site’s potential, what buyers will want and how the finished homes should be priced and presented.
“I’m excited to take on a broader role that brings those decisions together. Having worked across land and new homes for many years, I know how valuable it is for clients to have clear advice from the first opportunity through to the final sale.”
Chestertons operates more than 35 offices across London and forms part of the Campions Group.
Dedman Gray makes two senior hires as auction business targets Essex and East London expansion
Dedman Gray has recruited two property industry specialists as the BidX1-owned auctioneer looks to expand its presence across Essex and East London.
The Southend-based business has appointed Tom Mason as auction consultant and Carly Sullivan as its first business development consultant.
Mason joins from Barnard Marcus, where he spent 14 years as a sales consultant.
He will oversee auction activity across East London and north-west Essex, covering Stratford, Barking, Ilford, Dagenham, Chigwell, Epping and Harlow.
His responsibilities include securing new auction instructions, selling properties and developing relationships with estate agents, vendors and buyers.
Sullivan brings more than a decade of estate agency experience, having previously progressed to area manager at a corporate agency group.
She subsequently worked in customer success at Reapit before moving into an operations role at The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), supporting franchisees.
In her new position, Sullivan will focus on developing Dedman Gray’s estate agency referral network. She will also provide auction training, stock reviews and support for agents introducing properties to auction.
Mason said: “I’ve been given a patch where the company hasn’t had as much coverage yet, so it’s about getting out there, introducing myself to agents and building relationships.”
Sullivan said her immediate priority was to secure new estate agency partners before the end of the year.
“My ambition is for Dedman Gray to be the go-to auction house, and I want to bring on new agent partners by December while also nurturing the relationships we already have,” she said.
Mike Gray, director at Dedman Gray, said the appointments would strengthen the existing auction team as the business seeks to increase its market share.
Jonathan Fenn, CEO of BidX1, said the company intended to expand Dedman Gray’s geographical coverage and strengthen its relationships with estate agents.
“Our ambition is to build on that success, expand our reach and make auction a more accessible and effective route to market for both sellers and estate agents,” he said.
The appointments form part of Dedman Gray’s expansion beyond its established South East Essex market, supported by BidX1’s wider auction operation.
