LSL has Estate Agency Franchising, which includes national brands like Your Move and Reeds Rains, has announced the appointment of Natalie Parks as franchise director.
Parks brings 20 years of experience in the estate agency sector, including that of running an independent business.
Having previously worked with LSL Estate Agency Franchising’s (LSLEAF) Reeds Rains brand and managing her own independent agency, the company says Parks has a unique understanding of how franchise networks can enhance an agent’s business operations.
Parks began her career in property at just 18, working for Halifax before joining LSLEAF for the first time in 2009. In 2015, she co-owned and managed her own estate agency in East Yorkshire until 2024.
Parks has first-hand knowledge of both the opportunities and challenges of running an estate agency, making her an ideal fit to support LSLEAF’s franchise partners, LSL says.
“I’m thrilled to be joining LSL Estate Agency Franchising as a franchise director, working with Lee Carratt and his team,” said Natalie on her appointment. “Having been an estate agent for almost two decades, I am looking forward to using my experience and knowledge to support our franchise partners to build on their existing successes.”
In her new role, Parks will work closely with the Franchise Partnerships Team, helping franchise owners to improve their operations, implement strategic growth initiatives, and navigate the property market. Natalie will focus on equipping franchise partners with tools and insights that will drive long-term success.
Parks’ appointment comes less than a fortnight after LSL announced that Adam Castleton, who was group CFO, was to become CEO designate, following David Stewart’s notification to the board of his intention to retire from his executive role.
Castleton‘s appointment followed a thorough process overseen by the Nominations Committee, conducted by an external executive search organisation. The board says its is confident that Castleton’s deep knowledge of LSL’s businesses coupled with his breadth of experience in leadership roles, make him the right candidate to lead the group forward.
Castleton joined LSL in 2015, bringing with him previous experience in the public markets as group CFO. He previously held leadership roles at a number of market leading companies including O2 UK, eBay, and The Walt Disney Company. He has over 35 years’ experience in corporate leadership roles, having started his career with Price Waterhouse where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989.
Castleton will formally take up the CEO position on 1 May 2025, following a transition and handover period with Stewart. The Nominations Committee has agreed a process to identify and appoint a new CFO, and will make a further announcement in due course. In addition, and subject to FCA approval, the board says it is pleased that Stewart will remain with LSL as a non-executive director of the group companies forming our Financial Services Network and trading as ‘PRIMIS Mortgage Network’, enabling the group to continue to benefit from his financial services expertise. Stewart will also continue as LSL’s nominated director for the Pivotal Growth joint venture companies.
As part of a broader strengthening of LSL’s governance framework, two of the existing LSL Board members will take on additional responsibility in respect of two of LSL’s businesses. Michael Stoop, non-executive director, will become chair of the Estate Agency Division, reflecting his decades of expertise in estate agency and franchising which he has gained from his roles at Winkworth, Legal & General, and Belvoir Group plc. Darrell Evans, non-executive director, will chair the Surveying and Valuation Division, drawing on his significant experience gained at Co-operative Bank plc and Royal Bank of Scotland plc. The governance arrangements for our regulated Financial Services Division already has in place a non-executive chair, John Lowe.
Adrian Collins, non-executive chair, commented: “We are immensely grateful to David, who during his tenure as CEO led the transformation of LSL to a higher margin, less capital-intensive business that will perform more consistently through market cycles. Under his leadership, we have simplified and restructured our Financial Services and Estate Agency businesses. Both are now focused on business-to-business services with a significantly lower cost base and the potential for higher free cash flow generation.
“The board is very confident in Adam as the right person to lead LSL forwards, due to his detailed knowledge of our business, his breadth and depth of experience in corporate leadership and his close engagement with our investor community.
“LSL is a streamlined, agile group comprising three strong businesses, each with attractive organic growth opportunities, and each overseen by an experienced non-executive chair. Our focus now is on maximising the performance of our businesses to deliver value to shareholders.”
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/lsl-estate-agency-franchising-appoints-new-franchise-director/
