Connells chief executive announces retirement
Connells chief executive David Livesey has announced he will retire from the UK’s largest estate agency group next year.
Livesey, 64, has led the business through a period of rapid expansion, including the March 2021 acquisition of struggling rival Countrywide. The deal to buy Countrywide – also the parent of commercial property agent Lambert Smith Hampton – more than doubled the size of the group.
He joined Connells in 1990 as mortgage services director and went on to hold a number of senior positions before being appointed group chief executive in 2008.
Connells chief executive David Livesey has announced he will retire from the UK’s largest estate agency group next year.
Livesey, 64, has led the business through a period of rapid expansion, including the March 2021 acquisition of struggling rival Countrywide. The deal to buy Countrywide – also the parent of commercial property agent Lambert Smith Hampton – more than doubled the size of the group.
He joined Connells in 1990 as mortgage services director and went on to hold a number of senior positions before being appointed group chief executive in 2008.
During that time, the group has grown from 997 to 16,000 staff.
Other key milestones over that period have included:
Taking Connells private in 1996 in a management buyout backed by the Skipton Building Society
The formation of Rightmove in 2000 with Connells a founding shareholder
The establishment of a number of strategic partnerships with key industry players including Zoopla and FixFlo
The acquisition of Sequence from Royal & Sun Alliance in 2003, more than trebling the size of Connells Group at the time
The acquisition of regional businesses such as Sharman Quinney, Peter Alan, Burchell Edwards, Gascoigne Halman and Rook Matthews Sayer
The acquisition of The New Homes Group in 2007
“It has been my absolute privilege to be surrounded by the most talented team of property professionals in the country,” Livesey said. “As I prepare to hang up my clogs, I am confident Connells Group will continue to prosper and grow.”
Connells chair designate Sarah Whitney added: “On behalf of the boards of both Connells and its parent, the Skipton Group, I would like to thank David for his outstanding service to Connells. He has played a central role in creating the largest and most successful property services group in the UK.
“He leaves a business with more than 1,200 branches, 16,000 staff, a turnover of £1bn per annum and acknowledged as the market leader in the sector.”
Livesey will be working with Whitney and the executive team to find his successor.
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