Knight Frank and Derwent London Announce Senior Leadership Changes
UK Property News

Knight Frank and Derwent London Announce Senior Leadership Changes

By The Property AI Newsroom, Editorial Team · 20 July 2026 · 2 min read

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 Tim Robinson as Next UK Managing Partner

Knight Frank has announced that Tim Robinson will become its next UK managing partner. Robinson, who currently leads the firm's commercial division, will take over from Stephen Clifton following Clifton's retirement in March 2027. Robinson was elected to the role through a formal partnership process and will assume responsibility for Knight Frank’s UK residential and commercial businesses in April 2027.

Robinson will oversee the strategic direction and performance of Knight Frank’s 79-office network across the UK. He will also serve as chair of the UK board and remain a member of the group’s executive board. Robinson has been with Knight Frank for more than three decades and has held several senior leadership positions during his career. The succession plan is designed to provide a clear leadership transition for the business as it prepares for its next phase of growth across both residential and commercial operations.

Derwent London Names Jonathan Murphy as Next Chief Executive

Derwent London has appointed Jonathan Murphy as its next chief executive. Murphy, who previously served as chief executive of Assura, will take up the role on 1 September 2026. He will join the board as an executive director and succeed Paul Williams, who announced his intention to retire earlier this year.

Williams will remain in post until Murphy takes over in September 2026, before stepping down from the board and leaving the business on 22 January 2027. Derwent London stated that the appointment followed a recruitment process overseen by the board and supported by an external executive search firm.

Rightmove Founder Harry Hill Joins VetsCompared

Harry Hill, founder of Rightmove and former chief executive of Countrywide, has been appointed chairman of veterinary comparison platform VetsCompared. The appointment comes as the veterinary sector prepares for new transparency requirements being introduced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).


Source: Property Industry Eye
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The Property AI Newsroom
Editorial Team

The Property AI Newsroom curates daily UK lettings and property news for letting agents, inventory clerks, and property professionals. Our articles are AI-assisted and reviewed against authoritative trade publications and government sources. Every article carries a citation back …

AI-assisted reporting, sourced from Property118, Letting Agent Today, Landlord Today, Gov.UK MHCLG, The Negotiator, PropertyWire and Mortgage Solutions.

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