Knight Frank has appointed Liza-Jane Kelly as head of London residential sales, with the former Savills executive set to join the firm in September. Kelly will become a Proprietary Partner and work alongside current Head of London Residential Sales Rory Penn during a transition period before Penn assumes the role of Senior Partner and Group Chair in April 2027.
Kelly brings more than 25 years of experience in the London residential market, having previously held senior positions at Hamptons International and Marsh & Parsons before joining Savills in 2018 to lead its core London sales business. In her new role, she will oversee Knight Frank’s London residential sales operation, join the firm’s Residential Board and lead the strategy and performance of its network of London sales offices.
She will also take responsibility for expanding Knight Frank’s recently launched affiliate broker model, which enables self-employed brokers to operate under the firm’s brand in areas adjoining its existing London offices. The affiliate model represents a growing trend in the industry, with estate agents increasingly focused on operational transparency to build client relationships.
Tim Hyatt, head of residential at Knight Frank, said: “Amid some of the toughest market conditions I’ve witnessed, Knight Frank has remained the leading agent across our London markets under Rory’s leadership. He has steered the business through significant change, not least the launch of our affiliate broker model, which is gaining strong traction among top-tier brokers.”
Industry movement towards brokerage models
The appointment comes as experienced estate agents increasingly move towards brokerage and self-employed agency models. Moveli has appointed Andy Harris, who joins the brokerage after more than 20 years working across London’s residential property market. Harris held senior roles at Strutt & Parker, John D Wood & Co., Dexters, Bective Leslie Marsh, Domus Nova and Foxtons. Most recently, he was head of core sales and senior associate director at Strutt & Parker, where he led the firm’s Kensington core sales team.
Ben Littlewood, co-founder of Moveli, said: “Andy joining Moveli is another example of the calibre of agents choosing the brokerage model. Having held senior positions at some of London’s most respected agencies, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the network.”
Prime central London appointments
Harding Green has appointed Gareth Kelly, a prime central London estate agent with more than 23 years of experience in the residential sector. Kelly joins after an 18-year career specialising in the Prime Central London market, where he advised clients across Notting Hill, Bayswater and the surrounding areas. He previously served as a director at Marsh & Parsons, leading the firm’s Notting Hill office and overseeing residential sales and acquisitions across W11 and W2.
The moves come as the London market faces challenging conditions, with pricing strategy becoming increasingly important for sales velocity. At Harding Green, Kelly will strengthen the firm’s presence in Prime Central London and work with clients buying and selling homes across the capital.
Meanwhile, Rowe & Co has appointed Luke Blackburn as branch partner of its new office in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. Blackburn joins from Charters Estate Agents, where he spent almost three years working in the Hampshire property market before taking up the role of branch partner this week.
The series of appointments reflects ongoing restructuring within London’s residential property sector as firms adapt their operational models and senior agents seek new platforms for their expertise.
