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Written by Rosalind Renshsaw


The Live Organisation has announced that Rob Sendall, its founder and chief executive, is to step down and leave the company.

Sendall, a former estate agent, is an immensely popular figure in the industry. A disarming entrepreneur, he started Live in 1996 out of frustration that conveyancing was slow and communication between solicitors and agents antagonistic and almost non-existent. He introduced the idea of agents being able to get instant access to conveyancing, along with fixed quotes, and empowered them with referral fees, tracking systems, white-label offerings and the latest IT.

Refusing to let the small matter of having no legal background get in the way of his business plan, he set up office as a one-man band in a room he described as little bigger than a cupboard.

He won his first clients, Romans, that year and the partnership was so successful that when he had paid out a small fortune in referrals to them, he advertised: “Thanks a million.”

He built up Live successfully, moving offices several times to its present headquarters in Camberley, Surrey, and adding Home Information Packs plus other offerings to conveyancing.

Live was sold to the $9bn American insurance company First Title in 2005 and Sendall took a high-level corporate role before deciding to resume the reins at Live. He stayed on after his three-year contract ended in March.

His client entertaining involved some fairly legendary yacht racing on the high seas. He told the tale of how he (one of the top HIP producers in the country) had been introduced to a leading anti-HIP campaigner at a boring industry event: the two got on so well they ended up going out to dinner.

At the start of this year, Sendall was taken dangerously ill while on a family holiday and was off work for months. He convalesced by throwing himself into his new passion, a working farm.

Now completely fit again, he has decided to quit to pursue other interests – and for once, the phrase is exactly right. He has, quite simply, decided to take time out.

Hayley Fellows, Live’s managing director since December of last year, has assumed responsibility for all Live operations with immediate effect. She began her career as a financial adviser and progressed into management roles. She joined Live as operations manager in 2007.

Sendall said: “I founded Live 13 years ago and in that time this company has changed the way the conveyancing market works, bringing increased service levels to all and a major revenue stream to estate agents.

“Live has enjoyed fantastic loyalty from a raft of leading independent estate agency firms and for this I am enormously grateful.”

Comments

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    Good luck and all the best Rob. Time to talk to your agents :)

    • 03 February 2009 12:32 PM
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    Rob, it has been a pleasure to know and work with you, thanks for all the lunches!! We all wish you the very best and good health.

    • 20 November 2008 10:55 AM
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    All the very best Rob! Thanks for all your help and support!

    • 20 November 2008 10:21 AM
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    Please be aware that the payment of referral fees by solicitors to estate agents is in contravention of the Referral Code and action will be...Oh fuck it - well done, Sendall you slippery bastard.

    • 19 November 2008 07:03 AM
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    Rob was largely responsible for changing the face of property conveyancing in the UK and tranferring both the initiative and income stream from Lawyers to forward thinking Agents. He also threw some legendary jollys!

    • 19 November 2008 04:39 AM
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    Whatever you do next Rob I hope i get an invite on the sailing trip. It sure beats selling houses and i could do with something to look forward to!

    • 19 November 2008 04:34 AM
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    Rob - Wishing you every success with new ventures. Best Wishes & Good Health

    • 19 November 2008 12:48 PM
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    Top Man! I wish him all the best for the future.

    • 19 November 2008 12:42 PM
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    Nor did I!
    anthony@propertypersonnel.co.uk

    • 19 November 2008 12:36 PM
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    I never got a lunch. trevor@homeinformationpacks.com

    • 19 November 2008 10:50 AM
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