Three property firms have announced senior appointments as the sector continues to expand operations and adapt to market conditions.
Strutt & Parker has hired Shereen Akhtar as senior associate director and Tom Glenn as associate in its Knightsbridge & Belgravia office on Sloane Street, London.
Akhtar brings 13 years of industry experience, most recently spending two years as associate partner at Carter Jonas where she focused on international business through their Christie’s International Real Estate affiliation. She previously spent eight years at UK Sotheby’s International Realty, after beginning her career as an analyst at JP Morgan Chase.
Her focus is on the prime and super-prime market in prime central London, covering sales in premium development projects, the traditional re-sale market, and investment portfolio advisory.
“We are at a pivotal point in London where the opportunity for international investment in well valued prime addresses sits against a backdrop of global geopolitical uncertainty,” Akhtar said.
Glenn joins from Chestertons’ Knightsbridge & Belgravia office where he worked as a senior sales negotiator, having previously worked in the lettings team.
Claire Reynolds, UK head of sales at Strutt & Parker, said: “Knightsbridge & Belgravia is a key market for Strutt & Parker, and one where our clients will benefit from the depth of expertise and client-focused approach of Shereen and Tom.”
Lomond appoints group people director
Lomond has appointed James Cosser-Hindle as group people director. He will work with the executive team and regional leaders on organisational structure and staffing as the business expands through growth and acquisitions.
Cosser-Hindle has more than 15 years’ experience across financial services, health tech, media and retail sectors. He has previously worked at WPP, John Lewis & Partners, Sainsbury’s and most recently HeliosX.
Clare Wakeford, chief people officer at Lomond, said the appointment supports the company’s growth strategy and ensures the people strategy remains central to business decisions.
Real Estate:UK names founding chief executive
Real Estate:UK has appointed Vanessa Hale, currently at BNP Paribas Real Estate, as its first chief executive. She will take up the role in July.
Hale has more than 20 years’ experience in the property sector and is currently head of research and strategy at BNP Paribas Real Estate, where she also sits on the UK executive team. Earlier in her career, she worked in the US on office market analysis and corporate workspace strategy.
She has previously chaired Urban Land Institute UK and has held roles with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s commercial property forum and the Property Industry Alliance board.
Real Estate:UK is being formed through the merger of the Association of Real Estate Funds (AREF), the British Property Federation and the Investment Property Forum. The merger is expected to complete on 30 April 2026 following member approval last year.
The organisation will initially be chaired by Anne Breen, global head of real estate at Aberdeen and current AREF chair, with a board comprising representatives from the three bodies.
Simon Carter, president of the British Property Federation and chief executive of British Land, said: “Her experience across all asset classes and leading ULI UK will be valuable as we partner with government to unlock more capital to invest in our towns and cities.”
The appointments come as property firms continue to strengthen their teams amid regulatory changes and market shifts across the UK property sector.
