LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property, which services the Greater Hobart region, is embarking on an exciting new chapter with Simon and Taya Parsons taking over leadership under a recently signed franchise agreement.
The husband-and-wife team purchased the business from managing director Penny Higgs and sales manager Stuart Whyment, who are set to retire after three decades in the industry.
Mrs Parsons, an executive assistant, started working with LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property in 2016 and was joined two years later by her husband, who had previously been employed in property development, design, sales and as a corporate BDM.
“Initially, I was invited to the Christmas dinner as Taya’s plus one, where I met several staff members, including Stuart, who had heard about my background and invited me to coffee the following week, and the rest is history,” Mr Parsons said.
“As Stuart and Penny moved towards retirement, taking on the franchise was just a natural progression, allowing us to take the next step in our careers and lives.”
Mr Parsons said that the transition would be smooth, with minimal changes planned for the successful operation.
“The staff here are skilled and talented, so there aren’t many big changes to make to the business, just some small tweaks that we’d expect to go mostly unnoticed,” he said.
Chris Keating, Head of Network Australia, congratulated the Parsons on becoming the new franchise owners while praising Ms Higgs and Mr Whyment for their detailed succession planning.
“New franchise agreements can be complex, especially when there are several offices, staff and leases, so when someone from within the agency takes on the business, it can make for a smooth transition as they have an insight into how everything runs,” Mr Keating said.
“Simon and Taya make a great team with a strong business background and knowledge of this important and growing market. They have been mentored by Stuart and Penny, learning everything they can to ensure this well-established agency not only continues but thrives.”
LJ Hooker Pinnacle Property operates from three office locations in Hobart City, Glenorchy, and Kingston Beach, serving three of the state’s most populated areas.
Mr Parsons expressed confidence in the strength of the LJ Hooker brand in the region.
“The LJ Hooker name holds weight in conversations for those of us that are old enough to remember the marketing campaigns through the 80s and 90s,” he said.
“The latest marketing updates by the group provide an in-vogue feel on a trusted product. It’s familiar, it’s known, and it’s not going anywhere.”
Both born and raised in Tasmania, the Parsons have two children and currently live in Kingborough, a 15-minute commute to the Hobart CBD.
“We have travelled around most parts of Australia and taken several overseas trips, and it’s mostly felt underwhelming, which speaks volumes about where we live; it is a beautiful spot,” Mrs Parsons said.
Ms Higgs and Mr Whyment are currently building their property management company before retiring early next year, with plans to sell it back to the business.
