Ronald Ross appoints Gillian Lamont as sales director
Ronald Ross Lettings and Estate Agents has appointed Gillian Lamont as its new sales director.
The estate agency, founded and led by directors Kimberley Ronald and Robert Ross, and which only began operations in January this year, has tasked Lamont with securing up to 250 sales transactions in the year to December 2025.
Lamont said: “We are at an exceptionally exciting phase of development, ambitious to fulfil our mission of delivering a high-performance sales strategy, driven both by local and investor demand, for our stakeholders.
“Given my background in new build home sales I am particularly interested in working with housebuilders and developers of all sizes to give them the extra sales boost they need to realise the huge investment they have made in bringing new homes to the market.”
Ronald Ross Estate Agents has already made strong inroads into the market, with its core operations currently comprise 70% lettings and 30% sales, with specialist expertise in portfolio sales and estate work.
Robert Ross said: “We are exceptionally pleased to have secured a new colleague of Gillian’s expertise and background, and believe that she will make a huge contribution in spearheading our sales drive, not least in the sale of new build homes, and our focus on UK based and overseas investors drawn to Scotland’s property sector.”
Kimberley Ronald added: “We are building a robust, ethical, and high-growth business rooted in professionalism and transparency, and our team, systems, and client base are growing faster than even we had hoped.
“We believe that with Gillian’s appointment we are yet further down the path of fulfilling our growth ambitions.”
Savills appoints associate director to strengthen Midlands Planning team
Savills has announced the appointment of Ben Cook to its Midlands Planning team, based in Birmingham. A Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Ben brings over a decade of experience in both residential and commercial planning, with a strong track record of delivering successful outcomes for landowners, developers, and land promoters.
Ben joins Savills from Stantec, where he served as Planning Associate Director, leading complex planning projects across the West Midlands and beyond. His expertise spans strategic land promotion, development management, and stakeholder engagement, with recent successes including securing planning permission for residential developments in Coventry, Tamworth, and Hinckley and Bosworth, as well as major employment schemes in Slough.
His experience covers a wide range of site types, including brownfield, greenfield, and Green Belt land, and he has appeared at numerous local and neighbourhood plan examinations. Ben’s appointment further strengthens Savills capabilities in navigating the evolving planning landscape and delivering strategic advice across the region.
Michael Davies, joint head of Planning at Savills Birmingham, comments: “Ben’s appointment reflects our continued commitment to investing in top talent across the Midlands. His breadth of experience and strategic insight will be a real asset to our clients and the wider team. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Savills.”
Ben adds: “I’m excited to be joining Savills and contributing to the continued growth of the Midlands Planning team. I look forward to working with clients to unlock opportunities and deliver high-quality developments that support sustainable growth across the region.”
Homes England’s Neil Hook joins Places for London
Neil Hook has joined Places for London, the commercial property arm of Transport for London (TfL), as Residential Director. His appointment, announced in late August 2025, follows his previous role as a senior director at Homes England.
Hook, who is taking over from Lester Hampson, who is retiring, will be in charge of Places for London’s residential business, overseeing the delivery of major housing schemes across the capital.
Places for London CEO, Graeme Craig, says Hook’s experience will be crucial for “unlocking complex housing developments” and delivering the new homes – particularly affordable homes – that London needs.
Hook brings a significant track record from his 20-year career, having worked on major projects including the Tottenham Hale and Tottenham Hotspur stadium developments. He also has experience with public and private sector collaborations for housing development.
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/comings-goings-341/
