Kate Swann has been appointed as chair to the board at Lomond, the UK lettings and estate agent platform.
Swann will help support Lomond’s expansion strategy after the partnership investment by ICG in December 2024.
Swann’s background includes previous roles as CEO at WHSmith and SSP Group, where she delivered growth and shareholder value.
She currently acts as chair of IVC Evidensia, Moonpig, Parques Reunidos, and Beijer Ref.
Stuart Pender, founder and current chair of Lomond, will stay on the board as founder director during ICG’s investment.
Swann said: “Lomond is an exceptional business – leading the consolidation of the UK market and raising the bar for the sector in terms of landlord and tenant value proposition.
“I am excited by the significant value creation opportunity that exists through further organic growth initiatives and continued M&A, and I am delighted to bring my experience to help support Ed and the team on its growth strategy.”
Pender said: “As part of Lomond’s transaction with ICG last year, we agreed that we would review the potential to bring in a new Chair to lead the next stage of expansion within Lomond.
“We are absolutely delighted that the outcome of that process is we have attracted someone with Kate’s proven track record in high growth acquisitive businesses.
“I very much look forward to working with Kate and the other shareholders, in my new role as Founder Director, to drive forward the growth in Lomond to the scale Kate has achieved in her other portfolio companies.”
Ed Phillips, CEO at Lomond, said: “We welcome Kate as Chair of Lomond, to support the next phase of our growth journey.
“Kate’s experience provides an appreciation of the unique strengths of our business, coupled with her knowledge of the services sector and M&A growth and transformation.
“We look forward to working closely with Kate and the rest of the Board to fulfil our significant potential, whilst continuing to benefit from the knowledge and experience of Stuart in his new role as Founder Director.”
Phillips added: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Stuart for his invaluable advice and contributions as Chair to me personally, which have been so pivotal to the success of the Group to date.”
