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Three major agency brands have unveiled high-profile appointments this week.

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Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has promoted its group managing director Michael Cook, to the position of chief executive.

The promotion will take effect in January 2024.

Cook has spent almost his entire career within LRG, starting as a sales negotiator for Romans in 2006, rising to national lettings managing director in 2018 and then group managing director in 2022.

Current chief executive Peter Kavanagh has been appointed as chairman.

Blue Book Agency, launched by former Savills executive Lindsay Cuthill this year, has appointed George Nares as a prime London and country specialist.

With 12 years property industry experience having started his career in law, Nares has spent the past six years at Savills leading the sales for the Country House Department in the South and South West of England. Prior to working at Savills, George was a prime central London agent at Lurot Brand working across Chelsea, Belgravia and Knightsbridge and at John D Wood in Chelsea. George will join both Lindsay Cuthill and Sebastian Hipwood as a director and co-founder of the business.

He said: “I’m thrilled to have joined Lindsay and Sebastian at such an exciting time. Having worked together at Savills and forming a solid trust and friendship all three of us share a united vision for Blue Book.

“We’re looking to create the very best in personal service and are fully committed to providing a smooth sales process for our vendors. Living in Belgravia myself and spending time in both the South West and Yorkshire, I will be focusing on Prime London whilst taking on the very best country homes nationwide.

“Often at the very top end in the country in particular buyers tend to be house led rather than fiercely location specific. I’m looking forward to bringing my dual country and London expertise to my clients who are similarly entwined in both rural and urban locations.”

The Country House Department (TCHD) has expanded its team with the appointment of three new country house specialists.
Founded by Andrew Russell and Ben Bentley in 2020, this month TCHD is joined by former Savills and Knight Frank agent Freddy Dalrymple Hamilton as regional director, and new associate directors Nikki Hemsley, previously of Knight Frank, and Annabel Dight from Savills.

Now a team of 11, TCHD’s team has sold more than £225million of property and secured an average 101% of the guide price for its clients since launch.

Bentley said: “We are delighted to be growing our team of country house specialists with the appointment of Freddy, Nikki and Annabel. The trio bring with them a wealth of experience in country house sales and a deep understanding of their respective local markets.”

Russell added: “One of the key differentiators for us as an agency is the personalised relationship we have with our clients. Each agent manages only a small handful of properties and remains the single point of contact for the duration of each sale. These new hires will allow us to continue delivering a first class service while we grow our presence across the south of England.”