New NAEA President aims to champion professionalism

New NAEA Propertymark president Liana Loporto-Brown has assumed office, hoping to reset the organisation after a tumultuous year.

In February chief executive Tim Balcon left after only four months: no official reason was given for his sudden departure. A few days before Balcon quit, the NAEA President Kirsty Finney resigned after only six of her 12 months term of office - no explanation was given by Propertymark for her leaving.

Former NAEA chief executive Mark Hayward was scheduled to leave last Christmas but then made a surprise return with a new title of Propertymark Chief Policy Advisor; his former ARLA chief executive counterpart David Cox left unexpectedly last year and now works at Rightmove; former NAEA chairman Christopher Hamer left last year, again at what appeared short notice.

Since March the Propertymark ship has been steadied under interim chief executive Nathan Emerson.

Now Loporto-Brown becomes NAEA President having been in the industry for just under 25 years after starting her career aged 19 in Malta. After many years working in London she set up her own agency in the capital during the pandemic. 

“I’m really pleased to now be assuming the role as President for NAEA Propertymark, I’ve waited what seems to be an eternity given the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold” she says.

“As President I will use my voice within the Propertymark platform, to champion professionalism in our industry, to our members, to agents that are not yet members and to our customers across the UK.

“I genuinely believe that Propertymark is unrivalled when it comes to training, and with the introduction of the Regulation of Property Agents on the horizon, I really want to see us supporting existing members through Propertymark Qualifications as a well as attracting new members who want to be qualified and regulated agents.”