Property people: Preston Baker and Unity

Yorkshire estate agent Preston Baker has appointed a new CEO – Tom Kirk.

Kirk joins Preston Baker shortly after its transition from being an employed agency to a fully self-employed model, with a growing team of self-employed Associates.

He said: “I am intensely passionate and committed to providing home movers with the highest standard of estate agency service and this is best achieved with the low volume, high service, personal approach, supported by market-leading technology, that Preston Baker delivers with its new self-employed Associate model.

“The support provided to Preston Baker Associates through marketing, technology, mentoring and leadership training, is second-to-none and allows them to concentrate on doing the job of looking after home movers and delivering a premium service, and I am really looking forward to expanding the company further, and recruiting more high calibre Associates.

“Preston Baker is a well-established brand with a fabulous reputation and I am looking to enhance and develop this further.”

Group CEO Ian Preston said: “Tom brings a wealth of agency experience with him that we know will be invaluable in taking Preston Baker Estate Agency to the next level and driving our expansion plans. We are thrilled to have him join us.”

Kirk previously worked with The Agency UK, a nationwide network of bespoke personal estate agents.

He was chief product officer for Boomin, and sales director for Purplebricks in both the UK and US, after starting his career in the traditional sector operating as a branch manager for Reeds Rains and Hunters. He is also a professional football referee.

He added: “All my experience in estate agency has shown me that the way forward is a model like the one Preston Baker has adopted, with self-employed Associates supported by a strong, reputable brand, allowing them to spend time with home movers and deliver the best possible outcomes.

“My aim is to build a sustainable, successful network of Associates across the UK under the Preston Baker brand, and create a lasting legacy within estate agency in this country.”

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Abdul Hamied has been appointed interim chair of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise.

He succeeds Shruti Bhargava, who has stepped down as chair after nine years, and will be in post for up to 12 months before handing over to a new chair for a six-year term.

Hamied, deputy director of the Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England, has served on the Unity board since 2018.

He previously spent six years on the board of Manningham Housing Association in Bradford.

A graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Sheffield, he Hamied has held a series of senior positions in the NHS and local government supporting, facilitating and stimulating transformational change and service improvement.

Established in 1987, Unity Home and Enterprise manages 1,386 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds in Leeds, Huddersfield and Cleckheaton.

Hamied said: “It is a great privilege to become interim chair of such a highly respected and valued organisation with its roots firmly in the local communities it serves.

“I recently attended an away day with Unity’s senior management and fellow board members.

“As one of the country’s leading BME housing associations, there was a real sense of shared purpose to continue being ambitious, resilient, adaptive and willing to embrace new initiatives whilst ensuring we remain in touch with our customers and committed to the tackling inequalities in housing.

“That is the mantra with which I will approach the year ahead.

“One of my priorities will be to help attract the best possible candidates to lead Unity through the following six years of our development.”

Cedric Boston, chief Executive, added: “Abdul brings a wealth of experience and, having worked closely with him since I joined Unity almost three years ago, I am a huge admirer of his talents.

“Abdul’s familiarity with what we do is also incredibly helpful and will enable him to have a swift and positive impact on the many exciting ventures with which we are involved.”