Former STV presenter Fiona Pagett joins Paton & Co as partner

Borders-based estate agency Paton & Co has appointed Fiona Pagett as partner, kicking off 2023 with an eye on further growth. Pagett joins from Rettie & Co, where she was a senior sales negotiator and valuer.

Based in the Borders village of Broughton, Pagett brings a wealth of experience to Paton & Co, where she primarily covers the Peeblesshire area.

A former broadcast journalist with Grampian TV and STV, Pagett went on to be head of communications for business in the Community Scotland, and developed and led BITC Scotland’s Rural Programme. Pagett started her career in property working with Purplebricks and more recently Rettie, and has a unique understanding of the local market.

Patrick Paton, director at Paton & Co, said: “She [Pagett] brings a diverse wealth of experience to her role and is extremely like-minded in her approach to selling property; committed to doing things differently – and better. We are looking forward to a busy 2023.”

Pagett commented: “I’m over the moon to be joining Paton & Co and look forward to working with a team committed to providing a consistently professional and top-notch service. I am also thrilled to be working in my local area and helping to grow the business in Peeblesshire.

“I’ve lived in Broughton for 22 years; it’s where I’ve brought up my children, and I’ve been involved in lots of community organisations and initiatives over the years. I enjoy the benefits of living in a close rural community and am a huge advocate of country life.”

Knight Frank appoints new sales head of Battersea and Riverside

Knight Frank has appointed Sian-Louise Tangney as head of Battersea and Riverside sales.

Tangney joined Knight Frank as a sales manager in September last year and quickly rose to her new head of sales position.

Her career in property began in 2017 at Douglas & Gordon where she moved up the ranks from a starting role as letting negotiator to finally, associate sales manager in August 2022, covering the South West London markets of Streatham and Balham. During her time there, Tangney earned the ‘highest volume of lettings deals’ award in 2018.

In her new role, Tangney will be responsible for running the sales department across Battersea and Riverside, driving the firm’s market share and managing the team of negotiators.

Tangney commented: “It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining the Battersea team, now that the Power Station is open and fast becoming a retail and leisure destination of choice. In my new role I am particularly looking forward to working with our experienced team to expand the reach of our office.”

Luke Ellwood, regional partner, added: “A dynamic and proactive leader, Sian-Louise is a fantastic addition to our Battersea sales team. She comes with strong experience of delivering exceptional service and promotes a fast paced, positive and enthusiastic working environment, qualities that really will stand out in changing market conditions.”

William Swallow excited to ‘land’ new role with Preston Baker 

Yorkshire-based company Preston Baker has appointed William Swallow as its new land manager, and he is set on helping Yorkshire landowners and developers bring much-needed new housing to the market through his role.

Swallow, 25, originally from Morecambe, who studied Sports Science at University, has worked as a Sports Scientist at Celtic Football Club, and is a published author (he had a scholarly article on training loads published), has always had a keen interest in property and during lockdown decided to pursue a career path in it.

He joined Preston Baker Estate Agents on a graduate scheme and was soon earmarked for progression, quickly moving into a New Homes Sales Advisor role.

After just over a year in the new homes’ role, he has has now been promoted to land manager.

“We have a housing shortage in this country and there is a desperate need for housing for our local communities,” said William.

“I work with Yorkshire landowners who have outline or full planning permission on land to get the best possible outcome in terms of sale price, using the extensive experience of the in-house Preston Baker New Homes, Land and Planning team and our established relationships with developers,” he added.

Cathy Evans, Preston Baker’s New Homes and Land Director, said: “William has proved himself a real asset to the New Homes, Land and Planning team and he really deserves this exciting new opportunity to work with landowners and developers and facilitate exceptional outcomes.”

My Auction appoints Aaron Braithwaite as Head of Sales

My Auction, the online property specialists, has appointed Aaron Braithwaite as head of sales, specialising in residential, land and commercial property.

Braithwaite joins from Underthehammer.com where he was head of contracts, with responsibility for leading the sales teams across the UK and most recently making contractual agreements between Underthehammer.com and large private and public entities.

Braithwaite takes on a newly created role which comes following a period of growth for My Auction. As head of sales, he will be responsible for leading the sales efforts across the UK and managing the relationships between partner agents, buyers and vendors.

Braithwaite said: “We are seeing more buyers and sellers considering auctions as a viable route than ever before. The current economic climate is expatiating that even further. I am thrilled to be joining Stuart and the My Auction team and look forward to building on their success and taking the business through the next stage of growth as we develop more new and innovative ways of doing property.”

Stuart Collar-Brown, co-founder and director of My Auction, added: “My Auction is growing quickly and we are excited to have recruited a top property sector professional who will help us drive forward as we embark on the next stage of our business development.

“Aaron shares the My Auction ethos in that auctioneers must work closely with estate agents to ensure the best results for all parties involved. Like us, he believes that auctions offer a safe, reliable and transparent way to buy and sell a property and the process should be as easy and efficient to navigate as possible. From the moment we met Aaron we knew he would be a good fit for our team and we are excited to have him on board as we set to achieve our goals and grow the business together.”