Connells has revealed that its Chairman Stephen Shipperley (pictured), who is one of the industry’s most experienced and successful estate agency seniors, is to retire at the end of the year.

This follows a 45-year career at the firm, which he joined as an 18-year-old in 1977 as a Trainee Negotiator at Connells’ Aylesbury branch, before becoming Branch Manager at Connells High Wycombe aged 21 – the High Wycombe branch would become the most profitable branch in Connells for much of the 1980s. Stephen rose through the ranks, becoming a Director in 1988 and Chief Executive in 1990, and Connells Group Chairman in 2008.

He is credited with helping make Connells the biggest name within the UK property sector, growing the firm from 20 branches to over 1,250 branches and 16,000 employees, helped enormously by the 1996 management buyout backed by Skipton Building Society.

But his career has included some extraordinary and pioneering moments for the industry including helping steer the takeover of Countrywide last year. Shipperley also ensured Connells was at the forefront of digital innovation within the industry, being a founder member of Rightmove and a director of the portal for many years.

But much of Connells expansions has been down to acquisition, a strategy championed by Shipperley including – as well as Countrywide – the acquisition of Sequence from Royal & Sun Alliance in 2003 that more than trebled the size of Connells Group at the time as well as individual firms including Sharman Quinney, Peter Alan, Burchell Edwards, Gascoigne Halman and Rook Matthews Sayer

Fortunate and lucky

“I have been extraordinarily fortunate and lucky in my career,” says Shipperley.

“Firstly, to join estate agency as a profession and, most importantly, to have joined Connells. The business has trained and developed me, given me opportunities and challenges, and enabled me to work with a wonderful team of talented and driven people who have made the business what it is today. Connells Group is blessed with a results-focused, dynamic culture where people are at the centre of everything we do; a true meritocracy.

“The business has been able to achieve the great things that it has because of the experience and strength in depth of the management within the business, and I am immensely proud to have been a part of that management team,” concludes Stephen.

David Livesey (pictured), Connells Group CEO, adds, “After such a long and successful career with us, Stephen will leave a lasting impact on the business. His appetite for innovation and hunger for success have shaped