Simon Leadbetter has resigned as global chief executive of Fine & Country.

He left the company last week after just 10 months in the role in order to focus  on his own sustainable marketing consultancy called SO Leadbetter.

Fine & Country strengthened its executive team by appointing Leadbetter as its global CEO in September last year.

Leadbetter commented: “While I’m incredibly excited and energised about my new opportunity, a big part of me is sad to be saying goodbye to amazing colleagues. Fine & Country is a great brand, and I have been very proud to play a small part in its story.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed working at Fine & Country, how much I value my friends and colleagues, and all my experiences.”

Leadbetter joined Fine & Country, having over two decades of global corporate experience working with a number of well-known estate agency brands.

Leadbetter had previously worked as the group marketing director for Countrywide, the global head of marketing, communications and digital for Knight Frank, and chief marketing officer of Keller Williams UK.

For more than five years he has worked across all segments of the property sector, gaining knowledge on commercial, residential, sales, lettings, conveyancing, and finance.

A spokesperson for Fine & Country said: “He [Leadbetter] has always had the aspiration to run his own business and will be launching his own marketing consultancy business, which we wish him every success in.

The spokesperson added: “As a brand we will continue to build on Simon’s marketing foundations across Fine & Country. We have a strong management team in the likes of Nicky Stevenson, MD of Fine & Country UK and Daniel Harrington, Head of International Growth, who along with the rest of the head office team will continue to support our licensees and the network.”