From employee to owner - agency reveals new management

A former employee at the Staines-upon-Thames office of lettings agency Martin & Co has returned – as the branch’s new owner.

Doreen Rose, who was lettings manager at the Surrey branch between 2013 and 2017, returns after a spell as operations manager for a local independent agent; she acquired the Martin & Co business from the current owner.

She has over 20 years of experience in the lettings sector and says: “Owning my own sales and lettings agency was something I always wanted to do, and it was that goal that brought me into the property industry in the first place – it just took me 20 years to achieve it.

“During the Covid-19 lockdown, I really started to think it was time to take action and I’m really enjoying the challenge.”

The Staines-upon-Thames office has operated for 15 years and Rose has plans in place to grow the business further. “When I worked at the branch before, we were unquestionably in the top-three agents in Staines and I want to make sure we remain at that level and grow the business further across both sales and lettings.

“If the opportunity comes up to look at acquisitions, I will certainly look at that and I know The Property Franchise Group’s experience in guiding branch owners through that process will be invaluable.”

Head of franchising at TPFG, Penny Sanders, adds: “I am delighted that Doreen has joined the Martin & Co network and I have no doubt that we will see the business go from strength to strength in the coming years.”