Lomond’s new Group Chief Executive Paul Geddes has officially taken the helm as the estate and lettings agency group targets its next phase of expansion.
Geddes joins a business that has more than doubled its managed portfolio since 2022. Lomond now manages more than 70,000 properties, up from around 34,000.
The group has also completed around 70 acquisitions as it has expanded its footprint across the UK.
Earlier this year, Lomond entered two new regions through acquisitions. It bought Homesure in Liverpool and Prospect in the Thames Valley.
New CEO takes the helm
Geddes joins Lomond following senior roles across financial services, insurance and wealth management.
Most recently, he served as CEO of Evelyn Partners. During his tenure, the business agreed a £2.7bn sale to NatWest Group.
Previously, Geddes served as CEO of Direct Line Insurance Group. He also led RBS’s UK Retail Banking division, which now forms part of NatWest Group.
Over the coming months, Geddes plans to meet Lomond teams and regional businesses across the country.
Meanwhile, the group intends to continue pursuing both acquisition-led and organic growth. Technology and AI investment will also form part of its strategy under the new chief executive.
Geddes said: “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Lomond. Since announcing my appointment, I have spent time learning more about the business and have been hugely impressed by the quality of our people, the strength of our regional brands and the scale of the opportunity ahead.
“Lomond has built something distinctive within the UK property sector: strong local brands with the scale of a national group behind them. We operate in a market that continues to evolve, with customers expecting higher levels of service, greater convenience and more innovative solutions. Our ambition is to be the most recommended property group in the UK, raising standards across the industry while helping our regional businesses grow and thrive.
“My immediate focus is on supporting, learning and working with colleagues across the company to understand what makes each business successful. From that foundation, we will strengthen our position in the market and keep improving what we deliver for landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers.”
Kate Swann, chair of Lomond, commented: “We are delighted to officially welcome Paul to Lomond. His track record of leading large, customer-focused organisations through periods of growth and transformation speaks for itself.
“Lomond has achieved a tremendous amount over recent years and we are confident that Paul will build on that success. We are excited about what the next chapter will bring for our people, our customers and our partners.”
