Connells Group has deployed its lettings development director, Nik Madan, to drive the growth of the Barnard Marcus lettings division and make it the ‘go to’ brand in London.

Barnard Marcus, part of the Sequence UK network and subsidiary of Connells Group, has 39 branches in London. Currently, the brand offers 33 lettings offices and will look to extend this by six more this year.

Madan joined Connells in 2014 from Countrywide’s John D Wood business, with his brief at Connells to spearhead the doubling of its lettings operation within three years.

When Madan, who is president-elect of ARLA, joined, the group had 180 lettings branches.

Over the last two years there has been astonishing growth: 114 lettings outlets have been opened, with a further 50-plus planned for this year.

Madan will continue to drive the expansion but will now also specifically oversee the Barnard Marcus lettings division.

He said: “The London lettings market is incredibly busy and especially so in the Barnard Marcus office areas.

“We did not see the traditional slowdown in Q4 of 2015 as the market remained buoyant, and there is real upwards pressure on rents as we come into 2016 as stock is thin on the ground.”