Meet the Board

Paul was appointed as a non-executive director of The Property Franchise Group PLC in 2013.

Paul served as Deputy Group CEO of LSL Property Services plc until 2010 having been part of the management buyout in 2004, which ultimately saw the business successfully list on the London Stock Exchange in 2006. During this period Paul was managing director of a number of the LSL Group’s subsidiary businesses including e.surv Chartered Surveyors and also sat on a number of external company boards and trade bodies.

Subsequently Paul served as a Non-Executive Director of LSL until 2013.

Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Until 2014, he sat on the Residential Board for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors of which he was UK and World Chair.

With 30 years’ industry experience, Gareth brings a wealth of Estate Agency, Financial Services and digital marketing knowledge to the Group.

In his 21 year career at LSL Gareth was appointed Managing Director of the Your Move brand, which was the largest single brand estate agency in the UK at the time. In this role he was responsible for Your Move’s 400 branch sales and franchise operation as well as having overall control of Financial Services and Lettings and the strategy of the brand.

Following his successful career at LSL, Gareth became Managing Director of Briefyourmarket.com where he gained significant digital marketing experience and knowledge and since 2014 he has served as Chairman of Legalforlandlords. Gareth formally joined the Group as CEO on 30 April 2020.

Since qualifying with PwC as a Charted Accountant David has spent his whole working life in franchising as franchisor and franchisee. Initially David held financial responsibility for several Ford franchises before, in the mid 90s, moving to Porsche's UK headquarters. Here he held financial responsibility for its distribution, retails and financial services businesses at various times, as well as being their company secretary and, for several years, Head of Legal.

In 2007 David took up the role Finance Director for the Motability Scooter and Powered Wheelchair Scheme to restore its financial stability, to improve its offering and to expand its customer base. After successfully turning the scheme around and leading it into new ownership, David joined the Group in February 2013.

Richard (Non-Independent NED) felt it was time for a change of direction after a 20-year career with the Bristol Evening Post newspaper group culminating as Advertising Manager for a series of 9 titles distributed across 4 Southern Counties. He wanted to use the advertising and marketing skills he had learnt with his passion for property.

After the profitable sale of a retail business in 1986, set up by Richard and managed by wife Kathy, Martin & Co was founded in May of that year. Having been inspired by reading the story of Ray Kroc and his development of the McDonalds franchise system, Martin & Co then became a franchise operation in 1995. The brand went from strength to strength culminating in its AIM listing in 2013. Chairman until 19th May 2022 Richard oversaw the significant expansion of the Group into a multi brand business and the largest franchisor in the property sector.

Phil (Independent NED) is a Chartered Accountant. He has over 40 years’ experience in accounting, auditing and investigations and is currently a Managing Director at Berkeley Research Group. He retired as a partner in Forensic and Investigations Services at Grant Thornton UK LLP in June 2019. He was previously UK Head of Audit for 6 years and a member of the International Assurance Advisory Board at Grant Thornton. Prior to that he spent 15 years at Price Waterhouse.

Phil has extensive audit and advisory experience, addressing financial reporting and accounting issues and has worked with a wide range of listed and private international companies. Phil was appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director of The Property Franchise Group PLC’s Board and Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee in May 2015.

Dean (Independent NED) joined TPFG when the Group acquired Hunters Property PLC in March 2021. Dean is also the Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Dean was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Hunters in April 2015. He joined GA Property Services in 1995 and became Finance Director of Your Move in 2002. Dean subsequently served as Group Finance Director of LSL Property Services plc from 2004 to 2010. Since 2010 Dean has done a variety of consultancy and NED roles.

Claire (Independent NED) joined the Board in June 2023, bringing with her over 25 years of significant capital markets experience. Claire is also the founder, Managing Partner and CEO of the corporate broking firm, Hybridan LLP, where she has spent many years advising growth companies across the London markets. For the last nine years, Claire has worked with the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) as a NED, currently as the Deputy Chair. Claire started her investment banking career at the global banks Lazard Brothers Inc and Nomura International Bank plc, as well as with a number of UK specialist corporate finance houses. Prior to investment banking, Claire worked in Consultancy for a management consultancy firm. Claire is also an active Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.