Online agent eMoov has announced a new head of local property agents.

He is Richard Olliffe, whose hire comes as eMoov says it is preparing to “drastically build out its number of boots on the ground to further their local presence nationwide”.

The ex-army officer has joined from Spicerhaart.

eMoov’s announcement of his appointment says: “With over a decade of experience in the UK property market, Richard is the ideal person to orchestrate eMoov’s growing army of local property agents leading the home selling revolution across the UK.

“The high street shop window is now obsolete as a marketing tool and the multiple branch model, with high overheads and higher commission fees, is no longer relevant to the UK property sector.

“But one thing home sellers do still value is the face to face contact with a local expert, who can combine local knowledge and online market data to provide an accurate valuation.

“This blend of people and tech gives eMoov the edge in a rapidly changing industry and offers the consumer a proposition that combines the best of all sectors and removes the bad.”

eMoov sales director Alistair Harper said: “Like many, Richard has seen the bright light of online estate agency having made the move from the high street sector, and we’re glad he did. His track record in managing a wealth of branches and brands will put him in good stead when it comes to handling our rapidly growing number of local property agents.”

Olliffe said: “I’m excited to be joining eMoov at what is an important stage in the company’s ambitions to revolutionise the face of estate agency.

“Although my role at eMoov will be similar to my time in the high street sector, I’m looking forward to applying that knowledge and experience to a new breed of estate agency at scale.”

Yesterday, eMoov announced that it is now offering a no sale, no fee sole-agency option, with the arrangement lasting 26 weeks. Yesterday, eMoov founder clarified that at the end of the 26 weeks, the listing would be reviewed.

• Entirely separately, Connells has appointed a new divisional managing director. He is Paul Capehorn who has been with Connells for 16 years and who now takes on the firm’s central division. He was previously regional director for the south-east. In his new role, Capehorn will oversee 86 branches and also head up land, new homes and mortgage businesses in the region.