James Clarke, head of London sales in Knight Frank’s residential business, is leaving the firm after six-and-a-half years.
Clarke, who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease, has helped KF’s London residential business achieve record results in the 2021-22 financial year, with offices across the firm’s network producing their best performance to date.
He will be succeeded by Rory Penn, who takes over the role from 4 July. Penn has decades of experience in the sector and in 2018 set up Knight Frank’s private office advising and transacting for ultra-high-net-worth clients and family offices across prime residential and commercial markets.
In his new role, Penn will be tasked with driving the London residential business forward, working closely with the firm’s network of local offices and regional partners. He will become chair of the private office.
Clarke, with the full support of KF, will spend the reminder of this year fundraising to help others with motor neurone disease and is encouraging colleagues and friends across the property industry to take part in forthcoming fundraising challenges. Funds raised will go to My Name’5 Doddie, the charity founded by Doddie Weir, one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities, who also suffers from motor neurone disease.
Tim Hyatt, head of residential at Knight Frank, said: “It is with great sadness we announce that James Clarke will be stepping down as head of London sales, following his diagnosis of motor neurone disease earlier in the year. James has been a remarkable leader of the London business and a true asset to the firm, he is now admirably focusing his time in raising awareness of MND, something of which our partners, friends and family are fully supporting.”
Motor neurone disease is a rare condition with only 1,100 people diagnosed each year. It is, as yet, an incurable disease which damages and attacks the nerves, stopping signals from the brain reaching the muscles.
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