Appointments: Purplebricks appoints UK boss; director promotion at Grant Thornton

Online estate agent Purplebricks has appointed a chief executive of its UK business as part of its growth plans.

Lee Wainwright joined the Solihull-based property group last March as chief operations officer and has now stepped up to run its UK division.

He had spent 26 years with Countrywide, and for nearly half his career there was a divisional managing director with responsibility for the growth and strategic development of a number of their brands and divisions.

Purplebricks is expanding internationally and has launched in Australia and the United States while its UK business is now profitable, despite the continued investment in its growth.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Lee’s experience and track record in the industry heading up our UK business,” said Purplebricks’ group chief executive Michael Bruce.

“Having grown to be one of the leading estate agents in the country in such a short period of time brings with it the need to develop and scale‐up our people and capabilities in customer service, recruitment, training, and build a broader business offering.”

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Grant Thornton in Birmingham has boosted its commercial audit and office leadership teams with the promotion of John Coates to director.

He joined in September 2016 after a year in industry with Jaguar Land Rover, which followed 18 years with PwC.

Coates will build on his work with the firm’s larger and more complex clients across the West Midlands. He will also take an active role in overseeing the training and development of talented individuals within the Birmingham office.

Becky Eagle, partner and head of Grant Thornton’s 100-strong commercial audit department in Birmingham, said: “John’s promotion is very well-deserved. Not only is he highly technically skilled, but he also possesses strong commercial acumen gained from working in industry, which brings a different perspective and insight to his work.”