Mark Ridley is to retire as Savills chief executive at the end of 2025 after a 29 year career at the firm, seven of them as group CEO. 

In total he’s been 41 years in the industry. 

He will be succeeded from January 1 by Simon Shaw, currently group chief financial officer of Savills.

Shaw joined Savills in March 2009 as group CFO and is also now chair of Grosvenor Hill Ventures, Savills’ proprietary private equity investment business, which is focused on investing in PropTech opportunities. 

A company spokesperson says: “Under Mark’s leadership, Savills has achieved significant growth and stronger balance, both geographically and by service line. He has successfully steered the business through BREXIT and its aftermath and the pandemic years, and more recently global macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, navigating these very significant challenges whilst growing the business at the same time. 

“We are all delighted that, following his retirement at the end of 2025, Mark will remain available in a senior advisory role supporting the business. 

“Having used an external adviser to consider internal and external candidates, the Board has decided to appoint Simon Shaw, current Group Chief Financial Officer, as Group Chief Executive effective 1 January 2026, following Mark’s retirement from the Board on 31 December 2025. Simon is a highly experienced and respected senior Savills Executive who will lead the Group’s strong management team through the next phase of the development of the Savills business worldwide.”