David Brewin, former senior partner and chief operating officer at Ernst & Young, steps into the role after two years serving as a non-executive director of Fisher German, which employs around 600 in 26 offices across the UK.

He succeeds Harry Cotterell – former president of the CLA – who is stepping down after five years in the role.

Brewin, who is the third non-executive chair in the firm’s history, spent more than 20 years at Ernst & Young and now holds board positions in the healthcare and social enterprise sectors.

He said: “It has taken some very bold but necessary decisions since the outbreak of the pandemic and that has resulted in the business being in a much stronger position than might have been expected six months ago, and it will be well-placed when we emerge from this testing time.”

Fisher German, which is headquartered in Leicestershire, specialises in commercial and residential property, utilities, rural consultancy, development and sustainable energy.