Two key figures at Countrywide have quit amid speculation of a boardroom fall-out.
The seemingly abrupt departures of Bob Scarff, managing director of estate agency, and Nick Dunning, group commercial director who has been instrumental on its lettings side, come some nine months after new CEO Alison Platt took over at the helm.
No explanation has been given for the resignations other than that both want to pursue other things. Nor have their successors been announced. Unusually, the statement contained no quotes from either director.
The statement said: “Bob Scarff has built and navigated the estate agency business to success over the past 37 years.
“He started his career as a trainee negotiator at Taylors estate agents in 1978 when the company was under private ownership, and became the managing director of the UK’s largest estate agency network.
“Bob intends to pursue his own personal ambitions outside of the group and will step down on May 29.
“Nick Dunning has made a tremendous contribution throughout his seven years at Countrywide, most notably building the lettings business to its market-leading position today.
“Countrywide, the UK’s largest letting agent, continues to grow with 28 letting acquisitions in 2014 and a similar level of investment to be made in 2015.
“Nick is leaving the company to pursue other things and will step down at the end of April. [Yesterday.]
“Both businesses will report directly to Alison Platt and chief financial officer Jim Clarke in the interim.”
Alison Platt, chief executive officer, said: “Both Bob and Nick have built tremendous foundations in the Countrywide group and enabled us to look forward with great ambition.
“We wish them both well as they enter the next phase of their careers.”
Platt joined Countrywide from Bupa.
Eye asked if there had been a clash of opinions.
Platt replied: “Bob and Nick have worked incredibly hard to build the estate agency and lettings businesses to IPO and have continued that with record results in 2014.
“They have both worked closely with myself and the wider top team on the ‘Building our Future’ strategy review and made terrific contribution in defining the direction for the next few years of our Countrywide’s journey.
“Both Bob and Nick feel that now is the right time to pass the baton on to the next generation and move on to the next stage of their careers.”
Comments (13)
Smile: There was some pretty good stuff in the 80’s. Some of it would put shame to modern estate agency. Higher fees for one and the better practice of agents collaborating.
In my personal experience…. a woeful company to work for with little real interest in their clients…. they could be selling Creme Eggs, they don’t care.
When I saw how they actually worked I walked out the door and never looked back. The staff that have applied to me for a job over the years are some of the most demoralised I have ever seen.
Maybe these 2 folk finally discovered they had some principles although that is most likely pure fantasy!
Sports Direct is a horrid place to work from what I saw the other evening but their customers love them. Is there an important distinction between the public and staff perception.
When I read the results story yesterday and noticed result down despite increased branches I wondered what was going on. It is pure speculation but having also worked in, to me, the purgatory of a corporate nastiness for 18 months wondered who would get a beasting.
Accounts will have predicted growth to justify spend but someone will have forgotten about the elections or the previously unknowns of area saturation where the only difference between valuations, patter and fees was the tie or scarf. No one will have guessed that suddenly adding X didn’t add Y to the bottom line. Economies of scale are great but invariably problems are exponential too
I wholeheartedly agree with GPL if your a robot with no drive or ambition fine you will do well at CW, anyone that has half a brain soon walks away for greener pastures. and that include clients and staff
All changing GPL. I am sure that was your personal experience. I am now 7 months into working for a Countrywide agency and it really is just down to the people in the office and the direction from the Regional Manager. Luckily, I have excellent people around me and we run our office with the same attitude as a leading independent. I know how that feels, as had my own sales and lettings agency for 8 years. So, things are a changing. Bob visited our office recently and seemed a good guy who gave good, clear direction. lots of relevant praise and critique and then having set the direction, let us get on with implementing it. He hasn’t done too badly. Recently purchased a Bentley – cash. Anyone else here done that? (not me by the way!).
GPL, couldn’t have said it better myself. The takeover I experienced was awful and ill managed at best and we live in a small area where people talk, it hasn’t helped them! I hot footed it out and half their clients have followed… Anyway, no matter who walks in or walks out of the ivory tower you have to remember that this is a jugganaught, there is only so much change that can be implemented without a full on headache and from the top who don’t seem to give much of a damn about anything more than £ signs so I don’t see much changing… I agree about the demoralised staff too, both agencies have seen mass exodus and those now there (new and old) seem to be ready to throw in the towel!!
Can only be a good thing, I always found Bob far too removed from agency to have any real meaningful input a bit stuck in the 80’s Countrywide would be good to promote from within as a lot of the ‘New’ management team have no agency experience
Morning Smile, who is it going to be good for? other than looking at their strategy I don’t know the Countrywide characters although invariably the agencies they bought up were people that had been clients at some point
Is it good for Bob and Nick or is it good for Countrywide and therefore not so good for independent agents?
I have to say reading that reply to that last yes/ no question I will avoid going to a corporate wedding…… “Do you Alison take this other person be your lawfully wedded spouse? …. three paragraphs later…. “Sorry Alison was that a yes or a No?, I am afraid I have a couple more questions like that, for you both; Yes, No, I do, I don’t, I’m not really fussed but I do have 3 other weddings to get thorough today!”
Sorry all, through ( hopefully that is the only one)
I think good for Countrywide, and i guess yes ultimately bad for independents.
The “Old” management team are a little long in the tooth, the “New” are more relevant in today’s customers but unfortunately lack agency experience.
There are a number of middle managers that should get promotion as they are relevant and have experience.
However, Grenville, Bob Nick and alike do float the company and success there, now is the right time for them to kick on
Thanks Smile there was either going to be a threat from the two of them finding new homes say with the emerging Zoopla inspired sector or it was going to be good for CW. Most independents will be more comfortable with coping with an improved known threat than a new one.
Your reply also provides a more succinct answer to Ros’s question and helps clarify the story earlier in the week.
Forgive me asking are you one of the many colours of CW? I had you down as a good independent so guess you could well be one of the those good Indycorps down in the home counties or South West or well anywhere really As I sit here I actually can’t think of a bad one which probably says a lot. No doubt someone here will correct me if I am wrong on that.
Ex Countrywide – Like many did my time there 😉
From experience of ex Darlows and Peter Alan staff those that come out of corporate agency and stayed in Agency have the advantage of procedure. Not as rigid and unforgiving as they were used to (had endured) but nothing like…. some ‘lifestyle’ Agencies where the tide and breeze or livestock dictated opening hours.
You will have to let on how to do a wordpress smilies Smile mine won’t!