Canberra’s longest-running real estate agency, Independent Property Group (IPG), has announced major changes to its operation in an effort to position itself for further growth in what is one of Australia’s hottest property markets.
Established in 1958, IPG now has five sales offices, an extensive strata and facilities management business, and the largest project marketing business and property management portfolio in Canberra.
After embarking on a major transformation program last year, the company has now revealed its new leadership team and strategy, with former Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media National Sales Director Kylie Dennis appointed Group General Manager.
Ms Dennis, who will take over the business operations from this week, has lived in Canberra for the past 20 years and has a proven track record of leading teams through periods of significant change as well as specialist experience in business development and stakeholder engagement.
She said she had always considered Independent to be an iconic Canberra brand and was thrilled to be joining the team.
“We have some of the best and brightest in the business and we are able to offer our clients a premium end-to-end experience,” Ms Dennis said.
The group’s long-serving CEO John Runko will take on a part-time consulting role with IPG, and Managing Director John Minns is leaving to pursue new opportunities.
“Both John (Minns) and I know we are leaving the business in great hands and Independent is positioned for even greater success in the future,” John Runko said.
A new board has also been appointed, comprising six of the major shareholders who are all actively involved in running parts of the business and have 170 years’ combined real estate experience.
They are Wayne Harriden, Stan Platis, Paul Corazza, Mark Wolens, Grahame O’Brien, and Chris Uren.
Independent will focus solely on the ACT and surrounding region as part of a new strategy announced by the leadership team.
This means it will divest of its interests in Laing + Simmons NSW as well as several other non-core businesses, and use its 200-strong team to grow all facets of the company with particular focus on established homes, project marketing and property management.
This strategy reflects the continued strength of the local property market.
Figures released by the Real Estate Institute of Australia show that in the past 12 months the median house price in Canberra rose by 10.6 per cent to $732,500 – the largest increase for any state or territory.
Independent has also announced a recruitment campaign as part of their new strategy and will be hiring across all parts of the business in the weeks ahead.
