‘Good to be back in estate agency’ says new Connells group CEO
The firm, which includes all the Connells and Countrywide sub-brands, will in September be led by former Your Move MD Helen Charlsworth
Connells, the UK’s largest estate agency, has revealed its new group CEO just over a year since the previous incumbent David Livesey stepped down.
Helen Charlsworth (main image) who has enjoyed a varied career including a two-year stint as MD of Your Move but most recently running a big pub company, is to start in the role in September assuming parent company Skipton Building Society gets regulatory approval for her appointment.
The appointment makes her one of the growing number of women running big companies within the industry and she joins counterparts such as Lesley Cairns, MD of Hamptons and Polly Ogden Duffy, MD of John D Wood.
Leadership
Connells says reasons for Charlsworth’s appointment include her renowned leadership qualities and her time at pub firm Stonegate, where she has spent eight years leading the firm through a high profit and growth period and several acquisitions.
But she now faces her biggest challenge – running an industry monolith. Connells, following its acquisition of Countrywide in 2021, is now the largest estate agency in the UK by a country mile.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Connells Group and am looking forward to getting back into estate agency,” she says.
Stuart Haire, Skipton Group Chief Executive, says: “I am delighted to welcome Helen as Connells new Group CEO and look forward to working with her to help Connells onto even more exciting successes.
“I would also like to thank Richard Twigg for the excellent role that he has played over the last twelve months as Interim CEO – Richard will revert to his formal role of Chief Finance and Commercial Officer following Helen’s induction.”
