Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.

Knight Frank Appoints New Group CFO; Cavendish Announces Lettings Promotions

Knight Frank has appointed Chris Davis as group chief financial officer and a member of its Group Executive Board. Cavendish has promoted three staff members at its Grosvenor Street office in Chester, with new roles focused on sales progression and lettings.

Chris Davis, who previously served as Knight Frank’s interim group CFO, has been selected for the permanent position following a competitive process. He will lead the property consultancy’s global finance function, overseeing financial performance and supporting the delivery of the firm’s international strategy. Davis brings over 24 years of international business experience, having held CFO and board-level roles at Marlet Property Group, G.Network, Hilding Anders, AlixPartners, and THM Partners. He will undertake a transitional period before formally assuming the role, working with colleagues across the partnership as responsibilities are handed over.

At Cavendish, three promotions have been made at the Chester office. Emily Pickering has advanced from sales progressor to senior sales progressor. Daniel Owen has become lettings operations manager, and Annie O’Brien has taken on the role of lettings development manager. Pickering joined Cavendish in 2025 as the agency’s first dedicated sales progressor, focusing on progressing transactions and assisting sellers through the conveyancing process. Owen will have greater operational responsibility within the lettings department, including overseeing processes and improving consistency. O’Brien moves from Cavendish’s Mold office, where she was lettings manager, and will now focus on developing and growing the agency’s lettings business.

These appointments and promotions are relevant to UK letting agents and inventory clerks, highlighting ongoing changes in leadership and operational roles within major property firms.