Katya Zenkovich to head up United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty’s new service
United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty has tasked Katya Zenkovich with heading up the company’s new International Buying Advisory.
As senior sales director, Zenkovich will oversee what is designed to be an end-to-end solution for high-net-worth individuals seeking to acquire premier real estate in key markets worldwide.
With over two decades of experience and a proven track record in multimillion-pound transactions across the UK and internationally, Zenkovich brings expertise to this role.
Leveraging the strength of the Sotheby’s International Realty global network – alongside her own trusted affiliations, she acts as a dedicated on-the-ground advisor for clients – whether investing in the USA, UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Middle East, East Asia, or the Caribbean.
“Each region offers unique benefits and presents distinct challenges,” said Zenkovich. “Some clients are drawn to destinations like Monaco or Switzerland for their tax advantages and world-class education systems; others see value in the vibrant investment opportunities of Madrid and Italy. Navigating such diverse markets requires deep expertise and trusted local connections—this is precisely what our bespoke advisory delivers.”
“Our vision is to simplify and elevate the international buying journey for our clients,” Zenkovich continued. “By serving as a single, dedicated point of contact across markets, we bring efficiency, security, and confidence to even the most complex acquisitions.”
George Azar, chairman and CEO of United Kingdom, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia Sotheby’s International Realty, said, “Katya shares United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty’s vision of providing studied and sophisticated consultancy to our clients – this advisory being a prime example of that. Her extensive network and work within Europe, the Middle East, and the USA, with the foresight and gumption to tap into complex markets like Montenegro and Greece, made establishing this exclusive service a logical next step in scaling our bespoke offering.”
Three directors join The Property Ombudsman board
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has appointed three Non-Executive Directors to its Board.
Carlos Thibaut, Jennifer Ryans and Zahir Mamujee have decades of experience working across business development, dispute resolution and property development and management.
Thibaut is a non-executive director, consultant and senior executive with more than 32 years’ experience in business development, IT and people. He also serves as a non-executive director of the Society of Mortgage Professionals, having previously served as chair. He is a trustee and chair of the Investment and Sustainability Committee of St Martin of Tours Housing Association and a Director at Catch Technology Group.
Previously, Thibaut has held several senior roles in financial services and technology and served on various committees, including strategy, technology, regulatory and business consolidation. He has also served as a non-executive director on various Legal & General subsidiaries including Alliance and Leicester Life Assurance Company and held several senior Legal & General roles including estate agency, financial services, housing and distribution.
Ryans is a solicitor with senior operational leadership experience across dispute resolution, Ombudsman casework, and public sector services. She has proven expertise in stakeholder engagement and strategic transformation through her roles as deputy chief operating officer (Casework) at the Pensions Ombudsman and head of Dispute Resolution at the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS).
Ryans had earlier served as the HOS’s head of Dispute Support, Dispute Resolution Manager and Adjudicator. Before that, she was senior estate Mmanager at the London Borough of Wandsworth and a volunteer legal assistant at anti-poverty charity Z2K and as an adjudicator at the Financial Ombudsman.
Ryans earned a Professional Certificate in Ombudsman and Complaint Handling Practice at Queen Margaret University in 2014.
Zahir Mamujee is an experienced property professional and business leader with a strong track record across the private and public sectors. He established and successfully ran a lettings agency for over 20 years, managing substantial property portfolios including large residential blocks in both the East Midlands and London.
Following the sale of the business, Mamujee founded and now leads a private equity fund with a focus on development projects and the care sector, bringing expertise in investment strategy, asset management, and organisational growth. He also has extensive governance experience.
He is currently a board member of the Attenborough Learning Trust, where he has supported the Trust’s expansion to nine schools with more than 300 staff. Previous non-executive roles include serving as an Audit Committee Member at Sanctuary Housing Group and as a non-executive board member at ASRA Midlands Housing Association.
As non-executive directors, they will provide strategic insight and advice to support the Board to achieve its responsibilities.
Chair of the board, Claire Bassett, said: “I am delighted to welcome Carlos, Jennifer and Zahir to the Board. They join us at an exciting time as we continue to focus on improving the service that both consumers and businesses receive. They have extensive experience across the property, business and Ombudsman landscapes which will be invaluable to TPO’s work.”
LonRes appoints chief operating officer
LonRes has appointed Emma Herriman as its first chief operating officer (COO).
With more than 25 years of marketing experience, including 15 in property, Herriman joined LonRes 10 years ago as marketing director. She was appointed to the LonRes Board in 2018 and in 2023 became a Board member of the Central London Estate Agents (CLEA). She began her marketing career in publishing and spent nine years at The Economist Group before moving into property.
As marketing director at LonRes she has played a central role in shaping the business. From championing the strength of the LonRes brand to helping in the evolution of the LonRes platform including its expansion beyond prime London. She has been instrumental in the growth of FCS Compliance.
As COO Herriman will lead the implementation of the company’s business strategy, overseeing daily operations, and enhancing the overall membership experience. She will work closely with the senior executive team to drive growth, foster innovation, and deliver operational excellence – reinforcing LonRes’ vision for the future.
Herriman said: “There’s something special about LonRes. Someone told me this when I first joined over 10 years ago—and I’ve since learnt it to be true. It is a privilege to be appointed as COO. I am exceptionally proud of the service we deliver and look forward to channeling the energy of our dedicated team to ensure members’ expectations continue to be exceeded as we grow.”
Anthony Payne, CEO of LonRes, added: “This is a new post for LonRes and as we look to the future in an ever-changing and fast-paced environment Emma is the perfect person to ensure that we are embracing all these challenges and continue to deliver excellent systems and service for our subscribers. We look forward to working with her in her new role.”
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/comings-goings-345/
