Sons follow in fathers’ footsteps

THE promotions of Knight Frank's Alex Munro and Henrie Westlake to proprietary partners have made their fathers especially proud.

For Peter Munro and Michael Westlake are also experienced property professionals in Yorkshire.

Peter Munro opened Knight Frank's first commercial property office in Leeds in 1983 with colleague Keith Thompson, while Michael Westlake, a former partner of Dacre, Son and Hartley, set up his own property business Westlake and Co in Gargrave, near Skipton, eight years ago.

“They say property runs in the blood,” said Alex Munro.

“And it certainly does in our case. The fact that my father opened Knight Frank's Leeds office provides an excellent symmetry, whilst Henrie's father, like Henrie, is very well-known and very well-respected throughout the property world in Yorkshire”.

The promotion of both Alex Munro and Henrie Westlake comes after the pair took over the running of the Knight Frank's commercial property office in Leeds in 2006.

“Our careers have followed a very similar path. We are both Yorkshiremen, educated in Bradford and Skipton respectively, and joined Knight Frank from Donaldsons in Leeds. I arrived here almost 10 years ago and Henrie followed 18 months later,” said Mr Munro junior.

Knight Frank currently has 46 proprietary partners, rising to 54 in May 2008, when these promotions take effect.

Liam Bailey, head of residential research and based in Leeds, has also been promoted to proprietary partner.