Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by PropertyWire. Read the original article for full details.
Knight Frank Appoints Liza-Jane Kelly as Head of London Residential Sales
Knight Frank has appointed Liza-Jane Kelly as its new head of London residential sales. Kelly, who previously worked at Savills, will join Knight Frank in September and become a Proprietary Partner.
Kelly will work alongside the current Head of London Residential Sales, Rory Penn, during a transition period. Penn is set to become Senior Partner and Group Chair in April 2027. Kelly brings over 25 years of experience in the London residential market, having held senior roles at Hamptons International, Marsh & Parsons, and most recently at Savills, where she led the core London sales business.
In her new role, Kelly will oversee Knight Frank’s London residential sales operation, join the firm’s Residential Board, and lead the strategy and performance of its network of London sales offices. She will also be responsible for expanding Knight Frank’s recently launched affiliate broker model, which allows self-employed brokers to operate under the Knight Frank brand in areas adjoining its existing London offices.
The affiliate broker model is noted as a growing trend in the industry, with estate agents increasingly focusing on operational transparency to build client relationships.
Industry Moves Towards Brokerage Models
The report also highlights further senior appointments in the London residential property sector. Moveli has appointed Andy Harris, who has over 20 years of experience in the London market and has held senior roles at several agencies, including Strutt & Parker and Foxtons. Harris most recently led the Kensington core sales team at Strutt & Parker.
Harding Green has appointed Gareth Kelly, a prime central London estate agent with more than 23 years of experience. Kelly previously served as director at Marsh & Parsons, leading the Notting Hill office and overseeing sales and acquisitions in W11 and W2.
Rowe & Co has named Luke Blackburn as branch partner of its new office in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. Blackburn joins from Charters Estate Agents, where he worked in the Hampshire property market for almost three years.
These appointments come as the London market faces challenging conditions, with pricing strategy becoming increasingly important for sales velocity. The moves reflect ongoing restructuring within the residential property sector as firms adapt their operational models and senior agents seek new platforms for their expertise.
Source: PropertyWire