Staff profiles
Here you can meet some of our people. As you’ll see we like to promote from within, developing people’s careers.
Starting at the top is Lee Watts, our Managing Director and founding partner. Read a recent interview with him here.
Read our other staff profiles
- Lettings Area Director, Esmee Jones
- Sales Manager, Jenny Collett
- Lettings Manager, Giles Harling
- Senior Sales Negotiator, Yasmin Affum
Esmee Jones, Lettings Area Director
Esmee joined Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward in 2000 as a lettings negotiator for the Wimbledon Park branch. Progressing to lettings manager of the Putney office in 2005, Esmee was promoted to the role of Lettings Area Director in 2008.
What do you do?
As an area lettings director I manage five lettings branches and the renewals team at head office. I provide support and advice to teams on all aspects of their roles, while closely monitoring their targets and incentives.
What do you enjoy about your job?
I really enjoy working with people and building relationships. As a director I love giving recognition to those who work tirelessly to ensure they are doing their job to the best of their abilities.
And what do you enjoy about the company?
Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward has so much to offer at any stage of your career, in my personal experience I have gained a progressive career and some wonderful memories.
Describe your area, and why you love being located in your office.
I am based in Wimbledon at head office, however I spend time with my branches in Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Belsize Park, St John's Wood and Finchley. Each branch is different which means I get to work with a variety of people and properties.
What is your one piece of advice for someone who wanted to join KFH?
Working in lettings at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward is fun as it attracts people who like to work hard and be well rewarded for it. Every day and everyone is different, no day is ever the same.
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Jenny Collett, Sales Manager
Jenny joined the company in 2002 as a sales administrator in the busy Balham office. With a great outlook and a taste for the sales environment, a year later she became a sales negotiator. In 2006, Jenny was promoted to manage the Battersea Park sales office and has recently moved to Southfields to head up the team there.
What do you do?
I’m a sales manager for the company’s Southfields office. Together with a team of negotiators I’m responsible for growing our business in and around Southfields. We've had an office here since 1987 so it's a huge privilege to manage such a well known local office.
When did you join the company?
I joined the company in February 2002 as a temporary administrator with no previous experience in the industry. I discovered ‘property’ completely by accident and have not looked back since.
What do you enjoy about your job?
The thrill of exceeding people’s expectations throughout the process, matching the right people to the right properties and hopefully removing all or as much of the stress as possible. I also enjoy changing people’s opinions about estate agents and in doing so growing our business – the most powerful form of advertising is word of mouth!
And what do you enjoy about the company?
Many things. The work ethic everyone has (and I believe this always starts at the top) and the fact that because of this we have been able to adapt and evolve to suit an ever changing market place whilst still maintaining our place as a strong force in the London market. There is a very good social network within the company and there’s also a lot of competition so you’re always striving to do better!
What is your one piece of advice for someone who wanted to join KFH?
If you’ve been offered a position here – take it and don’t look back. The company offers the best package that I am aware of and if you’ve got what it takes they’ll support you all the way as you progress your career.
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Giles Harling, Lettings Manager
Giles began his career at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward in 2003 as a junior lettings negotiator at the Peckham Rye branch. In 2007, Giles was promoted from senior lettings negotiator to lettings manager, and has now moved to manage the new East Dulwich branch.
What do you do?
As a lettings manager I spend most of my day working closely with my team to offer them advice when needed and ensure they are performing at their best.
What do you enjoy about your job?
What keeps me passionate about my job is the variety. I am not trapped behind a desk all day, instead I enjoy that every day brings new people, new properties and with them, new challenges.
And what do you enjoy about the company?
Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward is a respected, established brand and I feel particularly proud when representing Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward during valuations.
Despite being a large company; Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward is renowned for its excellent staff retention, which has meant I have made many close friends. There are always ample opportunities to meet new people from other offices, the quarterly regional nights out and the incentive trips abroad allow you to network and get to know everyone from administrators through to directors.
Describe your area, and why you love being located in your office.
East Dulwich predominantly features large houses and period conversions with little in the way of new build developments. It is popular with families due to the quality of the state and private schools in the area. It is a fantastic location to work, especially since the clients are so friendly!
What is your one piece of advice for someone who wanted to join KFH?
What you put in, you get out and you will be recognised for it. Working as an estate agent can be more strenuous and challenging than many realise, however you will meet so many people, make great friends and develop a career in an exciting industry.
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Yasmin Affum, Senior Sales Negotiator
Yasmin Affum joined Kineligh Folkard & Hayward's Kennington office in 2006 as a sales negotiator. Yasmin chooses to work for Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward because of the long-term career prospects and the continuous opportunities to hone her skills through in-house training programmes.
What do you do?
I am a sales negotiator at the Kennington office. My day starts with our staff morning meeting where we find out how we are doing as a team. Next, I call my buyers and vendors to discuss the properties they have viewed or are selling, finally in the afternoon I am usually fully booked taking potential buyers out on viewings.
What do you enjoy about your job?
It varies from day to day, and although it is not always easy, I get a great sense of achievement every time a sale goes through. I greatly enjoy meeting a variety of different buyers and vendors with whom I try and build strong relationships. It is especially rewarding when clients recommend and remember you!
And what do you enjoy about the company?
We have an excellent brand, gorgeous offices and great staff; all the tools to enable us to be as successful as possible. I also love the regular trips abroad which recognise hard work for members of staff who are at the top of their game. The trips are a great opportunity to meet and make friends with colleagues from other branches that I would not normally come into contact with on a day to day basis.
Describe your area, and why you love being located in your office.
Kennington is such a diverse area; there is a huge selection of properties from Georgian houses on beautiful squares to purpose built flats. The transport links are fantastic and the area is steeped in history. It is great working so close to the river and central London, it is just a fantastic place to work every day.
What is your one piece of advice for someone who wanted to join KFH?
Enjoy it! If you get the chance to join the Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward team, make sure you grab it with both hands.
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