Architect of Humberts’ hub strategy promoted to CEO
Tim Simmons has been with the company for over 20 years starting out as a junior negotiator.
Tim Simmons, the co-architect of Humberts ‘hubs’ strategy, has been made its CEO after a six month stint as its Chief Operating Officer.
Simmons worked closely with the CEO of Natural Retreats Matt Spence after the travel company bought Humberts out of administration last year to shape the strategy that eventually led to its decision to close many branches and set up seven off-the-high-street hubs.
Simmons has been with the company for over 20 years joining as a negotiator at its Bridport office in Dorset and rose to become an associate partner in 2004 and then last year was promoted three times.
He was made Head of Residential just after it was bought by Natural Retreats before being promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing and then COO in October.
Administration
Earlier this year Simmons told The Negotiator that going into administration had been a good thing for the company, helping it escape ‘exorbitant’ early termination and dilapidation costs at many of its branches that often topped £100,000 per site.
Simmons has been running Humberts as its de-facto CEO for some months now as Spence, who took up the role after the purchase, has returned to focussing on Natural Retreats. Spence is to become Humberts’ chairman.
Humberts seven hubs will eventually cover Devon, Dorset, Somerset, the Cotswolds, Kent/Sussex, Cheshire and the Lake District, all of which are to be off the high street except its Cotswolds operation.
One of the strategies created by Simmons is to offer an unusual post-sales property management service to its wealthier buyers who don’t use their properties full-time.