Breaking Property News – 21/1/2026
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Jon Cooke steps down as Non-Executive Director at GPEA
Jon Cooke will continue to focus on innovation within the property sector
Jon Cooke has stepped down from his role as Non-Executive Director at GPEA, the business that owned Fine & Country and The Guild of Property Professionals, marking the close of a distinguished chapter in a career that has spanned more than 35 years across the UK and global property markets.
Cooke played an instrumental role in the landmark 2024 transaction that brought both Fine & Country and The Guild of Property Professionals under the ownership of The Property Franchise Group, helping to shape the strategic direction of the brands during a pivotal period for the sector.
An entrepreneur, innovator and strategist, Cooke joined The Guild of Property Professionals as a Non-Executive Director in 2001 and has been central to the network’s development, growth and long-term vision. Around the same time, he co-founded Fine & Country with Malcolm Lindley, establishing a premium estate agency brand that has since grown into a global network of licensed offices specialising in the upper quartile of the property market.
Beyond agency, Cooke has been a passionate advocate for social impact within the industry. He served as a Trustee of The Fine & Country Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting those experiencing homelessness and poverty, and has personally led and participated in numerous fundraising initiatives since the Foundation’s inception.
With a strong belief in the power of technology to transform the property sector, Cooke has also been a driving force behind the evolution of Nurtur, which supplies technology services to the financial services and estate agency industries. Nurtur’s mission is to build a scalable and highly profitable technology platform offering a broad range of services to a growing international base of property professionals.
Throughout his career, Cooke has worked closely with teams delivering brands, technology and data solutions to the financial services and real estate sectors. Aside from Fine & Country and The Guild, he has been involved in establishing other successful ventures such as iamproperty and Intercounty, as well as the expansion of established businesses such as YourMove and Lomond through organic growth and acquisitions. Alongside management teams, he has advised on carve-outs, private equity funding rounds and exits to both private equity and listed businesses.
Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild of Property Professionals, commented: “Jon’s contribution to The Guild, Fine & Country and the wider property industry has been nothing short of exceptional. I have had the privilege of working alongside Jon for many years, and together we have helped shape the strategy and direction of the business through periods of significant growth and change. His customer-first mindset, passion for technology and clear vision have left a lasting legacy. On behalf of everyone at The Guild and Fine & Country, I would like to thank Jon for his outstanding service and wish him every success in the future.”
Cooke steps down from GPEA having left an enduring mark on the business, with a legacy defined by innovation, strategic growth and a commitment to both customers and communities. Moving forward, he will continue to focus on innovation within the property sector.
Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X
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