A PROPERTY consultancy firm with offices in Winchester has elected a new chairman.

Simon Pallett joins Cater Jonas – whose city-centre office is based in Jewry Street – taking over from John Henniker-Major, chairman since 2007.

Mr Pallett said: “It’s a great honour to be elected by my fellow partners to head the firm which has grown so much in the last decade in order to adapt and prosper in ever-changing market conditions. I joined Carter Jonas via the merger with Dreweatt Neate in 2009 having started with AW Neate and Sons in Newbury in 1979. My late father, John, was senior partner of Dreweatt Neate so it gives me particular pleasure to follow him in the equivalent role.”

Following a mixture of organic growth and a number of mergers and acquisitions, Carter Jonas has expanded its operations across several departments namely planning and development, and the commercial, residential and rural teams.

It now employs more than 700 people across 53 offices.

Mr Pallett added: “Carter Jonas is a firm with a history that stretches back via Dreweatts to 1759 but it’s our acceptance of the constant need to be innovative and to maintain high standards of service that has kept us at the forefront of property consultancy. It’s an exciting time to be taking over the reins from John Henniker-Major, who has overseen so successfully much of the change that has brought Carter Jonas so far in the last 10 years. We will continue to embrace new areas of business as we identify opportunities.”