New head of finance at Dacres
Yorkshire’s largest independent estate agency, Dacre, Son & Hartley, has appointed Cleo Howell as its new head of finance.
Howell, who bought her first home through the firm’s Baildon office 35 years ago, previously worked in property finance and served as finance director at Yorkshire law firm LCF Law and its conveyancing arm, LCF Residential.
In her new role, Howell is responsible for managing Dacres’ four-strong Bingley based finance team who oversee the accounting function for its 17 residential offices across North and West Yorkshire, as well as the firm’s specialist commercial property arm, Dacres Commercial and rural property consultancy Lister Haigh, which Dacres acquired last year.
She also works closely with Dacres’ rapidly expanding residential lettings and management division to ensure compliance with strict RICS rules relating to the holding of clients’ monies and deposits.
Another part of Cleo’s role will see her work on further corporate acquisitions as the firm looks to expand its operating footprint and income streams.
Cleo, who has an MBA from the University of Bradford, said: “Back in 1990 I bought my first home through Dacres for the princely sum of £52,000 and I had a great experience, so I knew then that it was a quality company with a solid reputation.
“To have the opportunity to now lead the accounts team is a privilege and especially because it’s such a varied role, spanning almost every property related discipline and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”
Patrick McCutcheon, Head of Residential at Dacres, added: “Cleo is an experienced financial professional and brings a wealth of experience to her new role, as well as understanding the property market, which made her a great fit for Dacres. She’s already having a positive impact and is a very welcome addition to our team.”
Founded more than 200 years ago, Dacre, Son & Hartley is Yorkshire’s largest independent estate agent, with 17 offices across North and West Yorkshire and it also owns the Lister Haigh estate agency brand.
Knight Frank announces three promotions to Proprietary Partner
Knight Frank has announced the promotions of Arya Salari, Eddie Thomas and James Thistle to Proprietary Partner, effective from 1 April 2026.
Salari is head of Knightsbridge lettings, with plenty of experience in the London residential lettings market.
Thomas is part of the European Capital Markets team, while Thistle is head of London lease advisory and is recognised as a technical expert and trusted advisor to a broad client base.
William Beardmore-Gray, senior partner and group chair, Knight Frank, said: “This year’s Proprietary Partner promotions recognise the three individuals’ exceptional leadership, sustained high performance and outstanding contributions to Knight Frank over many years. They each enrich their respective teams with deep industry knowledge and a strong commitment to delivering the best outcomes for our clients.
“I am confident that they will continue to develop and add further value to the partnership for years to come, and wish them my sincere congratulations on this well-deserved milestone.”
LRG announces promotion of Robert Poole to managing director – block management
LRG has promoted Robert Poole to managing director – block management, where he will oversee the strategic direction and performance of the group’s block and estate management operations.
Poole previously served as director of block management at LRG’s specialist brand, Glide Property Management, having joined the business in 2022. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the property sector and has held senior leadership roles across the leasehold management industry, including running large corporate property businesses and his own company.
His appointment comes as LRG continues to expand its block and estate management operations nationally.
Poole commented: “Throughout my career, I have focused on building teams and services that prioritise transparency, value for money and professional excellence.
“At Glide and within LRG, we have a real opportunity to reshape how block and estate management is delivered nationally, ensuring that clients and residents receive a service they can trust and that supports long-term stewardship of their buildings.”
Simon Worthington, chief strategy officer, LRG, said: “Robert’s promotion reflects his unwavering commitment to quality and his strategic leadership within block management. Since joining Glide, he has driven the growth of a business that delivers expertise across diverse portfolios and complex environments, while strengthening its operational capability through system improvements and enhanced compliance processes. His leadership has supported the business in managing increasingly technical, high-specification developments and responding to the evolving expectations of developers, freeholders and residents.
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/comings-goings-407/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=comings-goings-407
