Knight Frank strengthens SE new homes team with new appointments
Knight Frank has announced the expansion of its South-East new homes team with a number of new appointments.
The Guildford-based team has welcomed Sarah Gunn and Lucy Sutherland as associates, alongside Grace Blythen as operations coordinator.
The new hires will support Knight Frank’s comprehensive coverage across Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, working under the leadership of Laura Hackney, head of South East New Homes.
Hackney said: “These three appointments reflect our growing pipeline of instructions and our determination to deliver exceptional service to our developer clients. Sarah brings valuable estate agency expertise while Lucy’s background in developer sales adds real depth to our service and together with Grace who joins after many years of working in the banking sector, enhance our ability to support clients at every stage of the sales process. Despite the broader challenges facing the residential market, we continue to see strong sales performance where developments offer the right combination of product, location and price. ”
The South East New Homes team works in close collaboration with Tim Traynor’s land and development division, which has also recently expanded with the appointment of Isabel Wright as Surveyor to support regional land acquisitions.
Traynor commented: “While everyone in the residential development sector recognises the current market challenges, we remain committed to growth and expanding our service offering. With Isabel joining our land team alongside these new appointments to the sales division, we’re strengthening our capabilities across the entire development cycle – from initial site identification through to final sales completion. By continuing to invest in outstanding professionals during this period, we’re positioning ourselves to capitalise on opportunities as market conditions improve.”
Harrods Estates promotes Sofien Scappini to assistant manager of lettings
Harrods Estates has announced the promotion of Sofien Scappini to assistant manager of lettings.
A member of the Harrods Estates team across two stages of his career, Scappini first joined the business in 2018. He began his property career at Foxtons in 2017, specialising in residential lettings across Marylebone, Notting Hill, and the West End.
After leaving the industry for a couple of years, Sofien returned to Harrods Estates in 2023. Since then, he has continued to strengthen client relationships .
Harrods Estates says that his promotion to assistant manager of Lettings reflects both his proven success in London’s competitive prime rental market and his contribution to agency’s ongoing growth and reputation.
In his new role, he will continue to work closely with Sarah McIntyre, residential lettings director, supporting the expansion of Harrods Estates’ prime residential lettings portfolio.
McIntyre said: “Sofien consistently delivers the high-touch service and trusted advice that our clients expect. His attention to detail, negotiation skills and proactive approach set him apart in the market. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to develop and strengthen Harrods Estates’ prime lettings offering across London.”
Shaun Drummond, director of Harrods Estates, commented: “Sofien’s approach perfectly reflects the service philosophy at Harrods Estates — personalised, professional, and relentlessly focused on achieving the best outcomes for our clients. His commitment to excellence, his detailed understanding of the lettings market, and his natural ability to build lasting relationships make him an integral part of our team.”
Scappini added: “Harrods Estates has always represented the highest standards of professionalism and client care, and I am proud to contribute to that legacy.”
The Hill Group makes two senior sales hires
The Hill Group has made two senior sales appointments as part of its ongoing expansion.
Eloise Solari joins as head of sales for London and Sarah Boyce takes on the role of head of sales for the South West and Southern divisions.
Solari’s career so far has focused on central London with previous roles at Ballymore, Taylor Wimpey Central London and Galliard Homes where she led the sales team at flagship developments.
Boyce joins Hill after spending 20 years with Berkeley Group, rising to sales and marketing director for the Oxford and Chiltern division. She has also held roles at Redrow Thames Valley, HarperCrewe, and Crest Nicholson in Bristol.
The South West is a key strategic region for Hill, with a robust development pipeline that includes three key upcoming projects in central Bristol — the former Bristol Zoo car park site in Clifton, a recently approved development in Southville, and Baltic Wharf on Spike Island, overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Andy Hill, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “I am pleased to welcome Eloise and Sarah to lead the sales teams in these two important strategic regions for The Hill Group. Their expertise will be invaluable in driving sales to support our expansion in London, Bristol and the South West.
“At Hill, we are committed to delivering exceptional homes that are thoughtfully designed for their locations, and both Eloise and Sarah share this passion. They bring a wealth of market insight and a deep understanding of delivering quality homes that add value to communities. We look forward to supporting them as they take on these key roles and contribute to our growing presence in these regions.”
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