Knight Frank re-appoints Anthony Duggan to executive board
Knight Frank has announced that Anthony Duggan, partner and chair of Europe, has been re-appointed to the group executive board (GEB) with immediate effect.
Following a successful first 18 months in the role as chair of Europe, his re-appointment to the board reflects the ever-growing importance of Europe to Knight Frank’s global network.
Duggan brings extensive leadership experience from a variety of global businesses and a proven track record steering key initiatives across Knight Frank, including his oversight of the Group ESG Board and his strategic leadership as Partner in Charge of People (his previous role on the GEB).
Duggan said: “The region [Europe] offers significant opportunities, and I look forward to working with colleagues across our platform to ensure Europe and our wider global business remains a driving force in our growth and success.”
William Beardmore-Gray, senior partner and group chair at Knight Frank, commented: “Anthony’s return to the group executive board comes at a pivotal time for Knight Frank. His leadership of our European business and his experience driving firmwide initiatives will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our network and accelerate our growth globally.”
Savills strengthens auctions team
Savills has appointed Mhairi Archibald, a highly experienced property auctions specialist, as an associate director within its auctions division.
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Archibald has long focussed on the market in Scotland. Her career has spanned roles at JLL and, most recently, Acuitus, where she worked extensively with institutional investors, property companies, and private clients.
Based between London and Edinburgh, she will be instrumental in further expanding Savills’ auction services across key regional markets.
Mhairi’s hire coincides with a period of exceptional growth across all sectors for Savills auctions – residential, commercial and mixed-use. This multi-sector approach has already generated £577m in sales this year, of which over £210 million has been from commercial sales – a 124% increase in commercial sales versus the same period last year.
Nick Penny, joint head of Savills UK Investment and head of Scotland Investment, commented: “Her [Archibald’s] specialism within the auctions sector, intricate knowledge of the commercial investment market, are going to be highly valuable assets to the region.”
Robin Howeson, head of Savills auctions, said: “With the continued success of our online multi-sector catalogue and auctions, I am confident that her appointment marks another step toward breaking new ground and setting fresh records across the industry.”
Archibald added: “Working with a fantastic team, and backed by the strength of Savills’ global network and expert teams, I’m eager to hit the ground running, supporting the expansion of the commercial market across the UK, and back home in Scotland.”
Pivotal Growth appoints group CEO
Mortgage broker consolidator, Pivotal Growth, has appointed Mayank Prakash CBE as the group’s CEO, effective 1 September 2025.
With 19 acquisitions recently completed and a growing network of over 500 professional advisers, Pivotal Growth is well-positioned to grow when it comes to consolidation and innovation in UK mortgages.
Prakash joins Pivotal Growth following a career spanning financial services, technology and the public sector. He recently held the role of group chief operating officer at Evelyn Partners. He currently serves as a board director at Softcat and Uber in UK. Mayank holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and is a Fellow of Wharton and BCS.
Previously, Prakash served as director general at the UK Government, where he scaled digital pensions services for 13 million customers. His earlier roles include senior executive board positions at Centrica, Morgan Stanley, Sage and Avaya. He received a CBE in 2024.
Simon Embley, chairman of Pivotal Growth, commented: “Mayank brings a rare combination of strategic vision, buy and build growth, operational excellence, and technology transformation. His appointment marks a pivotal moment in our journey to raise market standards to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes for mortgage customers across the UK.”
Prakash added: “I’m honoured to join Pivotal Growth, following in the footsteps of Simon. The opportunity to unify the fragmented market and utilise AI for every personal adviser’s interaction has the potential to transform the mortgage experience, which is a key life decision. I look forward to working with the talented team at Pivotal to establish the UK’s trusted mortgage adviser of choice.”
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/comings-goings-340/
