EYE NEWSFLASH: New managing director is appointed at Purplebricks

A new role has been created at Purplebricks: that of managing director – UK sales and service.

The person appointed to it is Allan Warren, currently the operations director, and who has no experience of being an estate agent.

The current national sales director Andy Harris is leaving, and after six years with the company, departs on February 10.

An internal email from CEO Vic Darvey spells out the changes, and says that the aim is for Purplebricks to grow the company to 10% market share.

 

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29 Comments

  1. ARC

    Allan Warren = Alison Platt

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    1. Hillofwad71

      “Our customers don’t look at us and compare us to other estate agents, they compare us to other retailers. We’re in retailing, the same as Tesco.”

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  2. Knowitall

    in a sadistic football chant manner..”are you Alsion Platt in disguise, are you Alison Platt in disguise…” (appreciate only a few will understand this)

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    1. htsnom79

      He’s got a pine———apple on is ead !!

      ( even fewer that one )

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  3. Ric

    Keep him busy for 12 months whilst some shares are flipped and bosh, sell em off… and ****** off.

    I would take the position to be fair…. easy £1m pay off.

    These people are not in it for the brand or the long game, just the shares.

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  4. Ostrich17

    “Andy has been a key part of Purplebricks in the UK and played a major role in our Australian and US operations.”

    Is the cull of the purple people cult over yet?

     

     

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    1. Knowitall

      Not many left! 

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  5. Knowitall

    Better title would have been “man with no estate agency experience appoints man with no estate agency experience to join him”

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  6. smile please

    Lets face it, Mr Harris was way out of his depth in the first place.

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    1. ARC

      Perhaps but if he had ever sold a house he would would be a step ahead of Mr Warren.

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      1. PeeBee

        He had, it seems – which put him not only a step ahead of not only Mr Warren but also waaaay ahead of the CEO – and we can’t have THAT… can we?

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  7. Gangsta Agent

    you couldn’t make it up!

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    1. Eyereaderturnedposter12

      Oh yes they can…and regularly do!

       

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  8. AgencyInsider

    We need a Managing Director. Someone with drive, passion, fire in their belly – and a really profound understanding of how agency works.

    What about Allan?

    Does he have drive?

    Yup.

    Does he have passion?

    Yup.

    Does he have fire in his belly?

    Only after a curry.

    Does he have a profound understanding of how agency works?

    Er, no.

    Fantastic! He’s our man! Oh, wait a sec…

     

     

     

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  9. Woodentop

    A person who has no experience is put in charge …. LOL.

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    1. AgencyInsider

      Don’t knock it Woodentop. Just look how well it went at Countrywide.

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      1. Woodentop

        I want to see how he can possible cope when the new regulations come in 2 years from now, on having to prove he knows the job!

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        1. PeeBee

          He won’t have to, Woodentop. 
           
          He’s one or more steps away from the coalface so won’t require “qualifications” under RoPA.

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  10. KByfield04

    If the customer journey is central to their vision- how about they look at their conveyancing part and lack of sales progression. Seems to me this is the glaring area where, not only do they lack, it simply doesnt exist!

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    1. Knowitall

      Whats funny is this Guy ALLAN was the same genuis who came up with closing the contact centre from 24/7 to shutting at 10pm and opening 8am or whatever the hours are…… maybe hes a yopa agent in disguise….. 

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  11. J1

    It’s like speed dating at that place

    More chaos please

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  12. qubes1832

    oh the commissary……….

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  13. Cocktail King

    E-on and Homeserve heh – if my recent experience of both these companies is anything to go by then professional estate agents have nothing to worry about !!

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  14. GeorgeOrwell

     
      Vic appoints sacrificial lamb – Welcome Allan Warren      
     
     

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  15. SLF

    Good luck Allan (BTW, that’s something you might say to someone in our industry who’s taking on a new role. It’s called courtesy)

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    1. PeeBee

      “(BTW, that’s something you might say to someone in our industry who’s taking on a new role. It’s called courtesy)”
       
      Utter b0110cks.  The words “courtesy” and “Purplebricks” do not belong on the same page.
       
      Please show me one letter… one tiny squeak… of “courtesy” shown to the rest of the property industry by Purplebricks since its’ inception.
       
      Thought not.
       
      Those that choose to work for a company that has shown itself to ride roughshod over decent honest Agency practices and standards under the pretence of “disruption” but in reality solely for maximum gain, deserve everything that comes their way – end of.
       
      Live by the tarnished sword…

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  16. My Point Of View

    ROPA. Does anyone have a view as to whether Allan Warren will need to be Level 4 qualified?

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    1. PeeBee

      Nope.

      There will be as little requirement for him to be “qualified” under RoPA as there apparently is for him having an ounce of experience in Estate Agency sales or lettings.

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  17. Knowitall

    Cull be complete today with a lot of RD’S being made redundant and the remaining being made sales directors.
     
    PB has finally rid 99% of the Bruce Era and on to its next chapter. Will not be half as succesful as to many disgruntled people and the higher ups seem think they can just churn through agents like a 2000s Countrywide… ended well for them.. 

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