Senior promotions at property consultancy

Sally Hart has moved into the role of managing director at independent property consultancy George F White, leading the company through a major merger deal as one of her first projects.

Her promotion makes her the first female managing director in the company’s 43-year history, breaking the mould in the sector. She is passionate about driving forward change in the wider industry, playing her part in encouraging more women at all levels to start a career in property.

In April Sally navigated George F White’s biggest deal to date, a merger welcoming Johnson Tucker LLP into the consultancy practice. The business now employs over 100 people operating out of six offices across the North East, with further growth plans already in development.

With a background in marketing, Sally joined the business in 2014 as head of communications before her career took a new path when she was appointed as operations director. Sally was then appointed as a partner in 2018 and headed up the agency and lettings arm of the business alongside her role. Her move to managing director came as the business geared up for growth and developments to the team.

Sally commented: “We’re a business that backs our people and gives them opportunities. Since joining George F White my career has taken me in different directions and now into a new role that I am extremely proud to be doing. This is a value I’ll bring forward with me as we have a great bunch of people who we want to grow with us. Ambitious growth is at the centre of our plans and in particular we’re geared up to grow our commercial property offering, since becoming one of the largest commercial property teams in the North of England following our merger. The property industry has evolved at a rapid pace over the last couple of years so it’s an exciting time to be in the managing director seat.”

A second senior promotion sees partner Caroline Horn appointed to equity partner. Caroline becomes the firm’s second female Equity Partner alongside Sally, helping to lead strategic direction for the business.

Caroline joined George F White in 2015 as a graduate rural surveyor and has been fundamental in driving forward growth, developing its land and property portfolio across Yorkshire and County Durham in recent years. She specialises in acting for landowners and occupiers dealing with compulsory purchase orders, as well as dealing with landlord and tenant matters. Caroline and her team currently act for a number of clients on major infrastructure projects in the North East.

Commenting on her promotion, Caroline said: “Since joining George F White my hard work and ambition has always been recognised and this promotion follows swiftly on from my appointment to partner last year. I am incredibly proud of the successes we have achieved for clients, and I look forward to having a voice in strategic decisions of George F White in further growing the rural offering.”

Sally added: “I’d love to see more women in senior roles sat around the boardroom table making big decisions in our industry, so to welcome Caroline to the equity partnership is fantastic. Alongside our other eight equity partners and myself, she will help shape our future plans for the business. As young women working in senior roles within a typically male-dominated sector, I hope we can inspire others in whatever industry they have a passion for.”

For more information on George F White visit www.georgefwhite.co.uk.