Rural surveying firm Davidson & Robertson (D&R) has appointed three new directors in a bid to expand the breadth of skills across their board.
The new board directors – Derek Bathgate, George Hipwell and Ian Austin – are all internal promotions, recognised for their achievements, dynamism and expertise.
Managing director Martin Hall broadcast the announcement to all staff through a video message.
The new appointments are a milestone for the firm which has several offices across Scotland and northern England.
Martin Hall said: “The D&R team has grown considerably, appointing staff with years of experience to the Board, and recruiting graduates keen to work their way up the ladder.
Looking to the future, we wanted to expand our board of directors, bolstering our expertise. Each of our new Directors will have specific roles and responsibilities.
“We have a strong reputation for training staff; Ian Austin will help us develop that. Derek Bathgate’s strategic and marketing skills will steer us through improving communication and growth. George Hipwell will develop special projects looking at sales, structures and efficiencies. It’s a formidable platform from which to grow and a very exciting time.”
All three new Board Directors are Fellows of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (FAAV) and on consecutive years, each won the Scottish Arbiters and Agricultural Valuers Association (SAAVA) President’s Prize awarded to the highest achieving Scottish candidate.
Track records
Derek Bathgate is branch manager for the Castle Douglas and Ayr offices and brings strengths in strategic thinking and communication – he successfully led the company’s rebrand last year.
He has been with D&R for nine years – joining as a Rural Consultant when he shared his time between D&R and the family’s 1,000ac Auchenree Farms. In 2016 he became an associate director at D&R, taking on responsibility for the Castle Douglas branch and subsequently launched their newest office in Ayr last year.
Board director George Hipwell joined the firm four years ago as a graduate with a keen interest in sales and valuations and became a Chartered Surveyor the same year.
He now heads up the agency side of the business which has seen instructions increase 33% on last year. In his spare time, George remains connected to the land, working on his in-laws’ farm in West Lothian.
In 2015, he became branch manager of the D&R Bathgate office and an associate director in 2017. In the last four years, the Bathgate team has expanded their services, doubled staff numbers and moved to larger offices in Linlithgow.
D&R board director Ian Austin will focus on D&R’s people. Brought up on the family farm near Gatehouse of Fleet, Ian completed his professional training in Dumfries and Galloway and still has strong links to the area.
He joined D&R as a Senior Surveyor in 2015 taking responsibility for the Edinburgh branch. In 2017, he was promoted to associate director and also became president of SAAVA putting him at the coal face of legislative and industry policy change.
