Connells Group appoints new Chair
Connells Group, the UK’s largest property services provider, and part of the Skipton Group, today announces the appointment of Sarah Whitney as Non-Executive Chair.
Subject to regulatory approval, Sarah will become the new Non-Executive Chair of Connells Group from current Chair, Mark Lund, in September. With immediate effect Sarah has joined the Connells Group Board and the Skipton Building Society Board.
Sarah has an extensive background in property and finance gained through a range of senior roles across a number of sectors. A former PwC partner, Sarah also held senior leadership roles at DTZ and CBRE. Sarah is an experienced non-executive director, and serves on the boards of BBGI Global Infrastructure SA, Bellway plc, Tritax EuroBox plc, and JP Morgan Global Growth & Income plc. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
In joining the Skipton Board, Sarah will have oversight of a collection of businesses, including Connells, employing around 18,000 people and spanning the housing, financial services and IT industries.
“I am delighted to be joining Connells Group and have already been impressed by the breadth of their operations that touch every part of the UK’s housing market. It is a business that prides itself on its people and I look forward to supporting the continued success of the business.” says Sarah.
Connells Group CEO, David Livesey, said: “This is an important appointment which strengthens our Board. Sarah has great experience in driven, fast moving and innovative property businesses. She also brings strong social purpose and will help shape how we continue to deliver on our corporate responsibilities.”
Sarah joins the Connells Ltd Board with immediate effect, with her appointment to Non-Executive Chair set to commence in September.
Connells is part of the Skipton Group. In March 2023, the Skipton Group shared its 2022 performance. Group profit before tax increased by 9.9% to £298.8m, with its mortgage portfolio growing by 9.6% to over £25.5bn. The Skipton Group made charitable donations of over £1.3m, together with introducing a commitment to donate 1% of future Group profits to charities aligned with its values and purpose.
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Further information
For further information and photography, please contact the press office on 01525 218536 or email pr@connellsgroup.co.uk
About the Connells Group:
Founded in 1936 and comprising over 1,200 branches nationwide, industry-leading Connells Group is the largest and most successful UK estate agency network. In addition to operating under the Connells brand, the Group trades under 80+ other well-known local names including Abbotts, Allen & Harris, Ashley Adams, Bagshaws Residential, Bairstow Eves, Barnard Marcus, Brown & Merry, Burchell Edwards, Fox & Sons, Gascoigne Halman, Hamptons, John D Wood & Co., Jones & Chapman, Manners & Harrison, Paul Dubberley, Peter Alan, Roger Platt, Rook Matthews Sayer, Shipways, Slater Hogg & Howison, Swetenhams, Sharman Quinney, Taylors and William H Brown. As well as residential property sales and lettings, the Group has a comprehensive range of B2C and B2B services including new homes, mortgage services, conveyancing, EPCs, surveying, corporate lettings, PRS, Build to Rent, asset management, land & planning, LPA receivers, commercial real estate and auctions.
About the Skipton Group
Connells is part of the Skipton Group. The Group is creating an impact at the centre of the UK housing sector. Skipton Group is made up of key businesses from across the housing and financial industry which includes Connells; Skipton Building Society, the UK’s 4th largest building society with over 1.1m members; offshore finance capability Skipton International; Skipton Business Finance; and Jade Software Corporation.