MARCHAND PETIT LIMITED - Key Persons
My career in residential sales began in the early 90's giving me almost 30 years experience in the industry. Having spent the formative years of my career working in a city and waterfront market I later joined a larger firm of West Country agents covering rural, urban and waterfront markets with a 40 mile radius and it soon became apparent that the South Hams was where I wanted to focus my career. Having lived and worked locally in the South Hams for the past 25 years I was delighted to have the opportunity to join Marchand Petit to work with an amazing group of people who all share the same passion and joy as I do, for their work. I have a joyful and busy life both in and out of work where you will find me walking our dogs in the beautiful countryside, having fun on the water and enjoying spending time with family and friends. When I do have time to myself you are likely to find me either in the kitchen, upcycling furniture or in my other happy place - my garden!
Most of my life have been selling houses…or wine. Both enjoyable in very different ways. So, with some interludes I have been largely involved in property since 1989. Yes, I began working in the worst market possible, which was a steep learning curve. But here I am, still here, still trying to help people find a way to get from A to B. When I am not working you will find me pootling around in my silly old Citroen, or walking to a beach or pub, or both. And when it rains, I will be inside getting creative with my oil paints.
I moved to the South Hams in 2014 after working as an estate manager in Wiltshire. I started off working in Dartmouth, where I learnt the ropes, and moved to Salcombe in 2016. After a succession of successful years, I moved into the role of office manager with Marchand Petit Salcombe - I very much enjoy leading the fantastic team we have now built here and am looking forward to the years to come. Before moving to Wiltshire and then to Devon I lived in the Lake District, on the edge of Lake Windemere. We often took family trips to Scotland, where I discovered my love for fly fishing, surfing, boating and essentially any water related sports I had time for. Since moving to Devon, when I am not roaming the sunny streets of Salcombe I continue to pursue my passion for the outdoors and head to the water.
Claire grew up on the family farm in East Devon, before moving to her husband's family farm near Holbeton in 1999, where they enjoy family life with their young boys.
Claire started her career in Estate Agency when she joined a firm of West Country Estate Agents, during which she gained a number of years' experience in their Kingsbridge, Totnes and Exeter offices before joining Marchand Petit in 2005. She has been working for Marchand Petit for approaching 17 years now, with nearly 21 years' experience overall in estate agency within Devon. During this time her passion for property continues to grow, along with the enjoyment of meeting customers and assisting them with their search for a new home in a professional and knowledgeable way.
When not at work Claire likes to enjoy time with her family including watching her boys play rugby for Kingsbridge RFC, time with their flock of rare breed Greyface Dartmoor Sheep and Cocker Spaniel Nelly. During the summer months they like to make the most of living in the beautiful South Hams and all it has to offer, especially spending time at nearby Mothecombe Beach. Claire also enjoys collecting Cornishware and Emma Bridgewater Pottery and gardening.
Frank is extremely proud to lead the excellent sales team in Modbury, a team that strives to deliver a high standard of service to our customers and to play an effective role within the community. Franks career started in theatre, graduating from drama school to tread the boards in London as an actor. This journey took a change of direction in 2006 when the property world presented itself as an alternative path. For four years, Frank took on the challenge of the central London housing market and in 2010, when his twin boys were born, Devon became his new home and a very different housing market to be part of. Since then, Frank has tackled and succeeded in serving clients in both the greater Exeter area and the striking landscape of the South Hams. Outside of Marchand Petit, Frank is still connected with theatre, acting and directing in an amateur theatre company, and with the limited time left, enjoys running, representing the South West Road Runners.
Gordon attended Kelly College at Tavistock, then following a gap year he attended the Royal Agricultural College of Cirencester attaining a diploma in Real Estate and Land Management. A year in Canada followed, working on a large farm and after his return Gordon became manager of Portlemouth Estates Ltd which is where his love for the South Hams began. Career changes led Gordon to became the manager of a marine business for seven years, winning many sales awards and then to work with Land Rover. It was here that Gordon met some of the Marchand Petit crew and liked the look of the company; they were just opening their Totnes branch in 2000 and looking for a manager. Gordon went on to become a director and shareholder and remains a dedicated ‘dyed in the wool' Marchand Petit man to this day as company chairman.
Job Titles:
- Senior Negotiator and PR & Events Coordinator
Returning home to the South Hams after 10 years of working abroad, involved in property development and after sales management on the Algarve and the Balearic Islands, Jane worked for a local independent estate agent running their South Hams office. In order to branch into new homes she joined the Exeter residential development department of an international estate agency and was delighted 10 years later to return to a previous favorite work place in Salcombe, to specialize in Marchand Petit's water front and new homes sector. With over twenty five years' experience in the residential property industry Jane has a sound knowledge and hands on experience of seeing projects through from their conception to the completed project, with a sound understanding of marketing strategy and maximizing development opportunity.
Natasha has lived in the area since 1995 where she ran her own restaurant/pubs and outside catering business with her husband, having a few mentions in the Telegraph and Times.
In 2004 it was time to hang up the apron strings. Natasha worked for Eurest contract catering as one of their managers for about 18 months. She then joined Fulfords based in Kingsbridge as their office administrator, where the manager and she turned the office around and increased their sales. Then after having her second child she was made redundant and joined Marchand Petit in September 2009 as a peripatetic administrator on a part time basis. She later joined the Lettings team on a permanent basis after a year.
An enthusiast of the residential property market, with particular knowledge of the western portion of the South Hams, and a Yealmpton resident, Roger is one of the West Country's most well known and experienced estate agents. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and their South West residential property spokesman for many years, he is a respected market commentator in press, TV and radio. He brings over forty years' experience across a broad spectrum of property disciplines to the firm, having been at senior levels in two major regional practices, and founder of his own prestigious Plymouth based practice Punch & Roche.
In his spare time Roger is a founder member of Saltram Rotary Club, and in this respect is chairman of the organising committee of the Plymouth Santa Fun Run. He is also a keen and lifelong sporting cyclist and member of the Yealm Rouleurs, and is a steward of Yealmpton Community Methodist Church. Most of all he is a family man, married to Penny, and with three grown up children, and two small grandsons.