Propertymark, which will from later this year combine both the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents into one body, has named its new leader.

Here is this morning’s announcement

We are delighted to announce that Tim Balcon has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Executive Officer of Propertymark.

 A proven leader, Tim has over 20 years’ experience in membership and sector organisations, having most recently led the IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment) where he led IEMAs transformation into sustainability and its subsequent year on year membership growth.

 Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Energy and Utility Skills Sector Skills Council (EU Skills) where he led the organisation from start up, bringing together four different sectors to create an influential voice on utilities skills needs.  EU Skills went on to become one of the most influential sector skills council in vocational education field.  In recent years, Tim was a Non-Executive Director for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL) at the time of one of the most radical reforms to education in a generation. Tim will join the Propertymark Board.

 Nicky Heathcote, Senior Independent Director of Propertymark has also been confirmed as Interim Chair following Chris Hamer’s decision to stand down. Nicky has been a Non-Executive Director at Propertymark for 2 years and has over 30 years’ experience in the property sector. She brings significant board and corporate governance experience and has held membership of a number of domestic and international boards and committees including being the UK representative on the UNECE Bureau and Committee for Housing and Land Management (CHLM) and chairing HM Land Registry’s Stakeholder Advisory Council.  Nicky is also the Chair of the PCCB Compliance Committee which regulates property search agents and is an ambassador for NED on the Board.

 Nicky Heathcote said: “On behalf of the Board I warmly welcome Tim to Propertymark. We are delighted to have found someone of Tim’s calibre, he brings substantial understanding of professional membership bodies and his leadership qualities will be invaluable as Propertymark navigates a changing sector and forthcoming legislation on behalf of our members.”

 Tim Balcon said: “I am thrilled to join Propertymark at such a pivotal juncture. Housing is arguably the most important portfolio within the economic playbook and I look forward to bringing my experience of regulation, Government oversight and educational strategy along with my experience inside a number of different membership bodies, to bear on the next stage of the business’s development. I welcome the opportunity to work closely with members over the coming months to ensure that we continue to serve them and represent their interests, enforcing high standards and playing our part in shaping housing policy.”