Property services provider, Lomond Group, has welcomed highly experienced leader, Kate Swann, to the Board as Chair, charged with supporting the expansion strategy following the partnership investment by ICG last year.

With an exceptionally strong track record of leading high growth businesses, Kate’s experience includes successful tenures as CEO of WHSmith and SSP Group, where she delivered significant growth and shareholder value.

Beyond her CEO roles, Kate has held a number of non-executive director positions on the Boards of prominent companies and is currently Chair of IVC Evidensia, Moonpig, Parques Reunidos, and Beijer Ref.

Kate commented: “Lomond is an exceptional business – leading the consolidation of the UK market and raising the bar for the sector in terms of landlord and tenant value proposition. I am excited by the significant value creation opportunity that exists through further organic growth initiatives and continued M&A, and I am delighted to bring my experience to help support Ed and the team on its growth strategy.”

Acquisition track record

Having completed over 70 acquisitions since 2021, consolidation in the UK lettings agent market will continue to be a focus, and Kate has a proven track record in that area.

Stuart Pender, who is the founder and current Chair of Lomond and will remain on the Board as Founder Director for the duration of ICG’s investment, added: “As part of Lomond’s transaction with ICG last year, we agreed that we would review the potential to bring in a new Chair to lead the next stage of expansion within Lomond.

“We are absolutely delighted that the outcome of that process is we have attracted someone with Kate’s proven track record in high growth acquisitive businesses.

“I very much look forward to working with Kate and the other shareholders, in my new role as Founder Director, to drive forward the growth in Lomond to the scale Kate has achieved in her other portfolio companies.”