Our Directors

Previous Chief Sales Officer at Foxtons with over 20 years experience in the London Residential Sales & Lettings market. Ed played a crucial role in the transition of Foxtons ownership from founder to PE backed and then the subsequent successful IPO for £650m in 2013.

He oversaw the organic growth of the company to 60 branches and led the M&A strategy resulting in the management of 25,000 tenancies across London and revenues in excess of £70m.

Former Chief Executive and previous Chairman of Paymentshield, Stuart led the buy-out of Paymentshield, backed by Bank of Scotland in August 2004, reshaping the business to increase
profits from £4m to £45m over 4 years.

Previously Stuart held senior positions at Prudential, Scottish Amicable and Bankhall, where he was Group Commercial Director responsible for development of Bankhall’s proposition to the IFA
market, leading acquisitions and overall strategy development.

Harrogate born and bred, with over 30 years in the property industry, Will began his career developing a substantial lettings department for his then employer, before being promoted to regional manager with responsibility for 21 letting branches across the North East. Launching Linley & Simpson in 1997, alongside Nick Simpson, the partnership has had almost 3 decades of success and established the brand as the leading lettings and estate agency across Yorkshire.

After the merger with Lomond in 2021, Will is now responsible for the acquisitions strategy for both existing and new regions.

Lucy has over 20 years’ experience in the residential property sector, most recently as Managing Director of online agency, Rentify. Prior to this, Lucy was an Equity Partner at Knight Frank where she set up the Investment Lettings Department as well as being Head of Lettings Operations before being appointed as Head of Lettings. Previous to this, Lucy held various roles with LSL Property Services, most latterly as Operations Director.

Martin spent the first 5 years of his career in Audit at accountancy firms in Bradford and Leeds, before moving into the property industry in 2006. Martin has a wide range of industry experience, including two years in the manufacturing sector, followed by four years as Group Financial Controller for leading hospitality brands. Martin moved into the Estate Agency sector, joining Linley & Simpson as Finance Director, in 2011 and was promoted to the Linley & Simpson board in 2018.

Martin is now the senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of the Lomond Group.

Finlay joined Lomond Capital in 2015 as Regional Finance Director and was subsequently appointed Group Finance Director in January 2021, following the successful merger with Linley & Simpson.

Finlay is a Qualified Chartered Management Accountant with extensive senior financial experience across a number of industry sectors, including 13 years experience in the fast moving FinTech sector, specialising in supporting and managing businesses through sustained periods of growth.

Since 2015, Finlay has focussed his financial expertise and IT experience within the property sector, first as Finance Director with Braemore and Stonehouse Sales and Lettings Estate Agencies across Scotland – before taking on the responsibilities as Group Financial Director, since early 2021.

Former Executive Director for Strategy and M&A at IDH Group, Europe’s Largest Dental Group where Robert joined in 2009 where he led and acquired over 360 dental practices and invested £400m over an eight year period. Coupled with that Robert led on the Groups strategic plans and finally the exit plan for its private equity backers, The Carlyle Group and Palamon Capital Partners in August 2021.

Previously Robert held senior roles at BDO Stoy Hayward for ten years working in turnaround and restructuring roles for private clients, Private Equity along with the mainstream banking institutions. Also during this time he was also seconded to the HBOS Structured finance team for 12 months in 2007/8

A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, Robert was previously Head of Integrated and Acquisition Finance with Lloyds Banking Group where he gained extensive experience in the UK and
European M&A markets. Robert was one of the founding partners of Lomond Capital and since 2010, remained at the forefront of the merger and acquisitions strategy for Lomond Capital, up to and including the merger with Linley & Simpson.

Robert continues to oversee the strategy and delivery of M&A across the Lomond Group.

Jon has over 35 years’ experience working across the property industry on a local, national and international level. Founding Fine and Country alongside the Guild of Property Professionals, Jon evolved the business into a license based reoccurring revenue model, supplying marketing and technology services to more than 300 locations worldwide. Jon was instrumental in formulating and
successfully delivering LSL Property Services M&A strategy, as part of an M&A vehicle LSLi, providing growth and exit strategies for UK independent estate agents.

Jon’s current role is Group CEO at nurtur.group Ltd; providing brands, marketing and a technology platform offering a broad range of services to a wide range of international property professionals.

Former Group HR Director for Bravo Group, Clare built and led the group people strategy, supporting rapid growth of the UK insurance broking market through regional acquisitions. Bravo Group was successfully acquired by the Ardonagh Group in 2021, placing £2.6bn of GWP.

Clare brings with her over 20 years’ experience of People and Talent Management across a number of business sectors. This includes senior HR positions across financial services, insurance, retail and private medical businesses, including mergers, acquisition and change management. Clare now sits on the Lomond Group Board, actively leading HR strategy for the Group.

Born and educated in Ilkley, Nick gained a degree in Estate Management from Newcastle University, before launching his career with a Leeds corporate property chain. Nick met his future business
partner, Will Linley in 1992 and five years later, capitalised on the Buy to Let boom, seizing the opportunity to launch Linley & Simpson in 1997.

Nick continues to actively develop the strategic direction and commercial business activities across the Linley & Simpson brand, that offers an extensive network throughout Yorkshire, with 22 operating branches and three regional brands.

Since opening the very first DJ Alexander office in Leith, Edinburgh almost 40 years ago, David remains as involved in the day to day running of the business today as he was on that very first day. In 2005, the business was widely recognised as one of Scotland’s most successful independent letting agencies – which provided the perfect springboard to launch the sales division of the business.

Since then, the company has grown exponentially; growth that has been largely driven by client recommendations thanks to DJ Alexanders exceptional service. David remains the proud CEO of the business and leader of a well-established team who have established D.J Alexander as the largest agency in Central Scotland.

Richard was formerly a partner and owner of Curry & Partners Chartered Surveyors, leading a management buyout and forming John Shepherd Estate Agency in 2009. A Fellow of the Association
of Residential Letting Agents (FARLA) and National Association of Estate Agents (FNAEA) with 29 years’ experience within the built environment, Richard specialises in asset management, residential
sales, lettings and property management, with extensive experience of acquisitions and estate agency integration.

Richard is ARLA qualified since 1998, holds a BSc in Estate Management and is committed within the Midlands region to continuously improve the private rented sector for all stakeholders. Along with other interests, Richard is also principal director of Marwood Homes Ltd and Marwood Surveyors Ltd.

The Founder of Cambridge Residential in the late 90’s which quickly became the market leading and largest Independent Letting Agent of choice in Brighton & Hove in the early 2000’s.

Following years of success in organic portfolio growth as well as two successful competitor acquisitions, Tom created and oversaw the merger of his own market leading lettings agency with Brighton & Hove’s leading Estate Agency, Brand Vaughan, to create one of Sussex’s leading independent chain of Lettings & Estate Agents.
Since joining Lomond Capital, Tom has overseen a number of further acquisitions to further strengthen Brand Vaughan position in the market and build a strong brand Brighton & Hove, for
both lettings and sales.

Andrew has been an Estate Agent since 1996 and is the former Managing Director of Thornley Groves, Manchester, and former CEO for Braemore and Stonehouse with a branch network across Scotland, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St. Andrews, and is now our Managing Director of John Shepherd, in Birmingham.

Having been with the business since 1998, Andrew has helped develop the prominent brands that he has represented within The Lomond Group, has influenced the career development of many of our colleagues, and has led a number of successful acquisitions in both Manchester and Scotland whilst experiencing the broad dynamics of local and regional markets.

Jason started his property career in 1986, quickly becoming a Regional Manager in the early 90’s of the largest Estate Agency in the North. Following this he went onto partner with Michael Groves in
1994 and helped establish the most prominent brand and business of its time in Manchester known as Thornley Groves Estate Agents.

From humble beginnings, Jason has established himself as a revered operator in the industry and continues to approach the changing face of Estate Agency with vigour and enthusiasm.

Previously Main Board Director of Thomson Travel Group, and Grattan/Next. Portfolio Chairman since 2002, approx. 20 companies, and two Government Quangos. Currently Lomond Capital and Moda Furnishings.

Our Directors

Ed Phillips

Stuart Pender

Will Linley

Lucy Jones

Martin Elliott

Finlay McNaughton

Rob Pilling

Robert Hamilton

Jon Cooke

Clare Wakeford

Nick Simpson

David Alexander

Richard Crathorne

Tom Ghibaldan

Andy Seldon

Jason Watkin

Peter Chappelow

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