A new independent asset management company called Asset 1st has launched, to provide specialist asset management and valuation services to the UK property market.

The founders of the company are Tony Ibson, Chris Finney, Angus Macnaughton and Graham McIntosh, who between them have previously held senior positions for a range of corporate organisations including Your Move, Newcastle Building Society, Northern Rock, Nationwide Building Society, Countrywide, and Reeds Rains.

The new firm aims to differentiate itself from the rest of the sector by offering a bespoke, technology driven solution that will operate independently and without any ties to any single estate agency group. Asset 1st will work with all estate agents in different locations, which it claims will enable it to choose and then partner with the best performing firm for a particular area and property type.

It adds that the system used to identify the best performing estate agent is fully auditable and provides lenders with a ‘comprehensive’ audit trail should their processes ever be challenged.

Graham McIntosh, commercial director of Asset 1st, said: “The generally held view is that there will be an increase in repossessions in the UK following next year’s General Election. This being the case the asset management sector is undersupplied and there is an opportunity for new entrants such as Asset 1st to make an impact. Our offering will combine a personal service with leading edge technology