Introducing Our New Property Director, Toby Downes
RedBook is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Property Director, Toby Downes. Toby has accrued over 15 years’ experience working for three top London estate agencies and joins us from Savills, where he was an Associate Director. Toby was part of the Super Prime Residential team, working in development and sales with properties at the very top of the market in Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Chelsea. (He proudly holds the record for the highest price per square foot achieved in Marylebone.)
CEO, Tom Adams notes: ‘Toby’s deep understanding and passion for the property market alongside his impressive network will help ensure RedBook increases its involvement in high value projects. Adding Toby’s expertise to the team really strengthens our new end-to-end service offering, which supports our clients right through from pre-purchase to aftercare.’
Justin Marking, Head of Global Residential at Savills, adds: ‘Toby will be a fantastic asset to the RedBook team, his knowledge of the property industry and wide contact network will service the business well. Savills looks forward to continuing its close working relationship with RedBook.’
Sandy Mitchell, RedBook’s founder, comments, ‘Our Property Director had to be someone who has the RedBook passion for delivering the ultimate in service, while also having high-level industry experience and their own little black book. Toby brings all this and more. And as soon as you meet him, you will understand why everyone likes him so much.’
‘What is more, he has worked on the delivery of some of the most prestigious London developments and has the deep market expertise our clientele is interested in. Just to be clear, Toby is casting off his sales-agent’s suit completely: RedBook is not becoming any kind of sales- or buying-agency. Instead, as part of its new “end-to-end service”, it is introducing its clients to its superb network of the best individual agents to find, buy or sell properties.’
Justin Marking, Head of Global Residential at Savills, adds: ‘Toby will be a fantastic asset to the RedBook team, his knowledge of the property industry and wide contact network will service the business well. Savills looks forward to continuing its close working relationship with RedBook.’
Toby, tell us about why you chose to join the RedBook team?
Having enjoyed nearly 10 years with Savills, I was ready for the next challenge. I’ve admired RedBook for some time. I absolutely love the fact that the team is tight knit, fiercely proud of the projects they do, with an enviable industry reputation.
RedBook sits at a very interesting point in the market, offering a unique service and to get the chance to be involved in that is fantastic. The entrepreneurial mindset of the team really attracted me – I like to think of myself as a forward-thinking ideas man.
Tom and I happened to go to school together. I’ll be working closely with him and Sandy Mitchell, RedBook’s founder. We all share a go-getting entrepreneurial attitude. There are fantastic plans to take the business forward, and it’s a really strong, exciting proposition. What I’m most excited about is the diversity of Redbook’s projects and the opportunities that arise from that.
What most appeals about your new role as Property Director?
Since I was a boy, I’ve been intrigued by residential property, having grown up watching my father develop various projects. For me, a self-professed property geek, seeing a project through from conception to delivery has always appealed and that’s what pulled me into the development side of things so I’m excited about that element of the role. I also can’t wait to be on the other side of the fence – working with agents instead of being one!
I’ll be using my international network to introduce RedBook to potential clients, as well as introducing clients to world class interior designers and architects, helping to manage the process from there, seeing projects come to fruition and reach their full potential.
Where can we find you outside of work hours?
Brought up on the South coast, I’m a keen sailor and can be found bobbing in a boat on the Hamble whenever the opportunity arises. I love getting out of London at the weekends to Hampshire and Wiltshire, fishing and walking my cocker spaniel, Moose. I’ll be getting married this year (restrictions allowing) and I hope to take on a personal property project outside of London after that.
