Jon Cooke, golden boy of estate agency, has abruptly quit the top job at Your Move after less than 18 months.

No reasons have been given for his departure, although there is speculation that Cooke is more suited to an entrepreneurial rather than to a corporate role and that his leaving has been sudden.

He will now be taking up the top job at an organisation familiar to him, the Guild, while Cooke’s successor at Your Move is named as Oliver Blake – said to be a highly able man.

Cooke was appointed Your Move’s managing director in April 2014, succeeding Helen Woodhouse who was recruited from a retail background and who also left abruptly after a similarly short tenure.

From October 1, Cooke will become chief executive of the Guild of Professional Estate Agents (GPEA), the marketing group which includes Fine & Country, which Cooke set up. The Guild’s current chief executive is Marcus Whewell who we were told last night stays on in his role but with the suggestion that Cooke will be in overall charge.

Cooke has been a main board director of GPEA for the last 12 years.

Yesterday, the Guild said it was delighted to announce Cooke’s appointment as CEO of GPAE Ltd, responsible “for the management and direction” of the Guild, Fine & Country, and associated companies.

Cooke’s role at Your Move will be covered by Oliver Blake, managing director of LSL sister firm of estate agents Reeds Rains.

It is not clear whether this is a stop-gap arrangement or a permanent succession. However, Cooke’s departure and the re-structure at LSL were stressed to be on the most amicable terms.

Yesterday afternoon, LSL said that Reeds Rains and Your Move will continue to operate independently of each other – despite having the same MD.

In a company statement yesterday, Adrian Gill, executive estate agency director for both Your Move and Reeds Rains, said: “Oliver is the perfect person to drive both businesses forward while maintaining their strong and individual position within the market.

“In turn, this gives Jon the opportunity to draw on his strong estate agency background and entrepreneurial flair to raise standards within the industry.”

In polite exchanges, Blake said he wished Cooke well in his new role and Cooke returned the compliment.

Cooke’s career spans 30 years, starting from a young age. In 1991, he started Intercounty Estate Agents. Eight years later he created the highly successful Fine & Country brand. He was also managing director of LSLi, a vehicle at LSL which gives independent agents such as Davis & Tate a sell-and-exit strategy.

Cooke is also a keen sportsman and charity figure, instrumental in raising money for Agents Giving.

He was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Estate Agency award in 2012 at the Sunday Times and Times Estate Agency of the Year awards.

Last year, the hugely respected David Newnes retired from his role as estate agency director of LSL.

Jon Cooke

Oliver Blake