Savills has announced that group chief executive Mark Ridley will retire from the role at the end of 2025 after a 29-year career at the firm.
He will be succeeded by Simon Shaw, who is currently group chief financial officer, effective 1 January 2026.
Ridley became CEO of the then combined Savills UK business in 2013 and subsequently took on the role of CEO of UK and Europe in 2014.
Shaw joined Savills in March 2009 as chief financial officer. He is a member of the group’s global and regional executive committees and is responsible to the board of Savills for Savills Investment Management. Shaw is also chairman of Grosvenor Hill Ventures, Savills’ proprietary private equity investment subsidiary focused on investing in proptech opportunities.
The selection of a new group chief financial officer will now commence.
Stacey Cartwright, chair of Savills, said: “Under Mark’s leadership, Savills has achieved significant growth and stronger balance, both geographically and by service line. He has successfully steered the business through Brexit and its aftermath and the pandemic years, and more recently global macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds, navigating these very significant challenges whilst growing the business at the same time. We are all delighted that, following his retirement at the end of 2025, Mark will remain available in a senior advisory role supporting the business.
“Having used an external adviser to consider internal and external candidates, the board has decided to appoint Simon Shaw, current group chief financial officer, as group chief executive effective 1 January 2026, following Mark’s retirement from the board on 31 December 2025. Simon is a highly experienced and respected senior Savills executive who will lead the group’s strong management team through the next phase of the development of the Savills business worldwide. The board and I very much look forward to working with him as group chief executive.”
Ridley added: “I am delighted that Simon will succeed me as group chief executive and I look forward to working closely with him, as I have done over the last seven years, to ensure a smooth transition at the end of this year.”
