Luxury property business UK Forbes Global Properties has appointed Charlie Willis as founder partner and managing director as it continues to build its UK brokerage platform.
Charlie brings more than 30 years of experience in prime Central London residential property, including six years at Foxtons and 18 years at Strutt & Parker.
During his time at Strutt & Parker, he became a full equity partner, joined the board and ultimately led its London residential sales and lettings businesses, while being involved in more than 700 property sales.
More recently, Charlie has advised private clients through Charlie Willis London and held senior leadership roles with The London Broker, focusing on prime and super-prime residential property.
In his new role, he will continue advising clients while working alongside founder and chief executive Martin Bikhit to develop the UK brokerage and recruit experienced property professionals across London and the wider UK.
Charlie said: “I have spent more than 30 years in this industry and I remain as excited by great property, great clients and getting deals done as I was when I started.
“What has changed is the way I believe the best agents should be able to operate.
“Clients increasingly want senior, experienced people dealing with them directly, whilst these agents need access to genuinely world-class marketing, technology, content and international relationships.
“What Martin is building brings those things together in a very compelling way, enabling great agents to elevate their own personal brands.
“Forbes is one of the most recognised names in the world, but what particularly attracted me was the opportunity to help build a business around experienced individuals, entrepreneurship and collaboration rather than recreate a traditional corporate agency.
“I’m delighted to be joining at this early stage and very much looking forward to what we can build together.”
Charlie’s appointment comes less than four months after UK Forbes Global Properties launched in May, focusing particularly on homes valued above £10 million in London and £5 million elsewhere in the UK.
The business forms part of Forbes Global Properties, an international network specialising in luxury residential real estate.
Martin Bikhit, founder and chief executive of UK Forbes Global Properties, added: “Charlie is exactly the sort of person I wanted alongside me as we build this business.
“He has operated at the top of the London market for decades, has led large teams and, importantly, has also experienced the market as an independent broker.
“He understands that the industry is changing and that exceptional agents increasingly want the freedom to build their own business and relationships, but with a serious brand, international reach, technology and infrastructure behind them.
“We have known each other for a long time and share a very similar view of what good estate agency should look like.
“Bringing Charlie into the business as a Founder Partner is therefore about considerably more than adding another successful agent.
“He will play an important role in helping us build the next generation of the firm.”
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