After 13 years with The Property Ombudsman (TPO) – 12 as TPO Board Chairman of TPO, Bill McClintock stands down on 1st January 2016 and Gerry Fitzjohn, currently Vice Chairman, takes up the position.

At a reception at the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Richard Best, guests, including The Negotiator’s Editorial Director, Sheila Manchester, celebrated Bill’s achievements of and those of Christopher Hamer, The Property Ombudsman, who is also retiring, having served the maximum nine-year term as Ombudsman.

With 50 years experience in estate agency, Bill joined TPO as Chief Operating Officer in 2003, becoming Board Chairman in 2004. Bill (left) said, “When I joined, there were 769 firms with 4,251 offices registered with TPO. Figures now sit at 14,400 sales and 13,500 lettings offices – a significant change. One of my main achievements was encouraging the government to enact the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007, which required all estate agents to register with an Ombudsman Scheme and to get the TPO Scheme approved by the Office of Fair Trading, considerable developments in the industry.”

Gerry joined the TPO Board in 2000, from starting as a Sales Negotiator for Taylors in Stony Stratford in 1974 to National Sales Director of Countrywide until 2010. He was appointed TPO Vice Chairman in 2010.

Gerry (right) said, “I’m honoured to be appointed Board Chairman. I look forward to building on Bill McClintock’s achievements and am determined to promote the scheme to the maximum and further improve the image of sales and letting agents throughout the UK as well as the standards in our industry.”

Christopher Hamer said that when he was appointed as Ombudsman somebody said, “Oh good, you really look like an Ombudsman! “Must be the grey hair,” said Christopher, who told guests that he had, “enjoyed every minute of his work at TPO,” and that he isn’t “fully retiring” but he will “still be watching and shouting from the sidelines.”

The new Property Ombudsman is Katrine Sporle CBE (right), who takes over from Mr Hamer on 30th November.

Lord Richard Best OBE, Chairman of the TPO Council since 2009, commented, “Selecting our Ombudsman is a key responsibility of the independent TPO Council and we are truly delighted to have secured someone with the breadth and depth of experience – at local and national levels – which Katrine brings to this role.

Christopher Hamer is a very hard act to follow; but I am confident we have found a great successor. I know all TPO’s members and well-wishers will join me in extending the warmest of welcomes to Katrine when she starts in November.”