Countrywide gets new Chief Executive from Bupa

20th May 2014 08:51

A former senior executive at private health-care provider Bupa is to become the new boss of estate agency group Countrywide.Alison Platt will take over as Countrywide's Chief Executive on September 1st, replacing Grenville Turner who will become Non-Executive Chairman.Platt spent more than 20 years at the health insurer and hospital operator, latterly as its Managing Director of International Development Markets. She was also Managing Director of Bupa's UK, Europe and North America Division.She said: "There are significant opportunities available for Countrywide to further strengthen its business and performance through the recovery of the UK property market."Countrywide employs about 11,300 people in a UK network of about 1,300 estate agent and letting offices under 52 local high street brands such as Bairstow Eves, Bridgfords and Hamptons.Shares in Countrywide rose 2p to 531p at 09:08 in London.PW