Countrywide has appointed a new managing director for Hamptons International. He is not from an estate agency background but Countrywide emphasised his retail commitment to ensuring customers’ journeys.
Nick Hughes has previously worked across the leisure, hospitality and banking sectors, with his CV including senior roles at Barclays and American Express.
Hughes will also join the London Leadership Team led by Graham Bell, managing director for London at Countrywide.
Bell said: “The appointment of Nick Hughes as managing director for Hamptons International heralds an exciting new chapter for the company.
“Nick’s career background in various customer focused industries has resulted in strong experience and knowledge in this field which will no doubt be put to good use at Hamptons International.”
Neither Countrywide boss Alison Platt nor ‘retail’ boss Sam Tyrer – in charge of sales and lettings at the firm – have any previous experience of estate or letting agency.
The latest appointment underlines that the UK’s largest agent does not consider that such industry experience matters, but looks for other things.
Two things spring to mind.
1. Upper management have complete contempt for estate agents.
2. If you are a good estate agent looking to move on from a branch role into senior management you should leave CW today as they do not see the same career path for you.
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I would like to thank Alison platter for her retail approach. Spencer in our town have gone from being one of the strongest to one of the worse. Keep up the good work.
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I expect it is because I am too long in the tooth to understand the rationale, but I just don’t get the wisdom or benefit in putting people in such senior roles who have no experience of the sector.
Nurse: ‘Good news Mr Smith. Your surgeon for today has just been appointed. He has years and years of experience driving trains so you’ll be in jolly safe hands’
Air steward: ‘ Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We are flying at 37,000 feet at 475mph and your captain today is on her first flight – ever. Prior to today she was production manager in a chicken processing plant so she knows about wings and things like that. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight’
Newly appointed estate agency boss:’ Ah, so you are a nego… er, negoti… er, negotiator. And what do you do exactly?…’
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I’m sure the forthcoming BOGOF deals and nectar points will prove popular.
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It’s ok everyone…checking the directors register, they are populated by property heavyweights…chairman is ex Royal Mail and TUI (travel), CEO is ex BUPA, CFO is ex Wetherspoons and ned’s include former Channel 5 director. Hang on a minute, someone there’s one ex Bradford and Bingley and another LSH. Bet you are relieved now. Retail is king…in property. That’s what the banks and insurance companies when they spent £100’s millions in the 80/90’s!
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He is not from an estate agency background but Countrywide emphasised his retail commitment to ensuring customers’ journeys.
The “customer journey” they refer to lasts in most cases for a few months – where the tides take it up, down, safely to port… or onto the rocks.
I wish the latest in a long line of pretenders to the Canute throne every success – but won’t hold my breath. Lifeboat on standby – but raises the old question as to why should they have to respond to acts of recklessness?
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