Alison Beech, managing director of Valunation Chartered Surveyors, the valuation arm of the Spicerhaart group, will retire from the business at the end of January 2018. 

She has spent almost a decade with the Spicerhaart Group, the last eight of which have been focused on heading up Valunation.

She will be replaced by Paul Lancaster who will be appointed managing director with effect from 1 February. He has worked for the Spicerhaart Group for 12 years, most of which has been spent in Valunation as operations director. Prior to this he was with Barclays/Woolwich in a variety of roles over a 14-year period.

Beech (pictured) said: “After 37 years of full time work I want to take the opportunity to do some travelling and to focus on my marathon running. It is certainly not my intention to leave the world of work altogether however, and I am already looking at a number of advisory roles in the private and public sector.

“As MD of Valunation I have been very fortunate to have an exceptional leadership team around me and I know that I leave the business in the safest of hands. The business will continue to focus on its core beliefs of quality and service while growing in a sustainable and profitable way. In recent years, we have also focused on providing enhanced support and development for our team members and this continuity of leadership will ensure that we maintain that commitment.”

John Phillips, national operations director, added: “I would like to thank Alison for the sterling work she has done over the past ten years.  She has led Valunation to be one of the most respected valuation service providers in the UK. Paul’s appointment ensures that this will continue and I welcome him into the role.”