CKD Galbraith, Scotland's leading independent property consultants, announced the appointment of Iain Russell as Chairman of the firm which has marked its continued expansion throughout Scotland with the opening of a new office in the North-east.

Mr Russell (56) will work closely with Tim Kirkwood who has been re-elected Chief Executive by the partners of the firm. CKD Galbraith has enjoyed substantial growth and now employs more than 225 people in 14 offices across Scotland.

The firm has now opened a new office in Cults, Aberdeen where services will focus on high-quality residential sales, farm and estate management and valuation.

Iain Russell, who is head of the firm's rural business division, has been primarily based in the firm's Inverness office and will also work from Edinburgh in his new role. He succeeds James Galbraith who has been Chairman of the firm since it was formed through a merger between CKD Finlayson Hughes and Cluttons (Scotland) 11 years ago.

Iain Russell said: "I am very honoured to be appointed Chairman of a company that is a home-grown Scottish success story.

"All aspects of the property market took a heavy knock during the recession but we worked our way through that by diversifying our services and that has borne fruit in the growth of the firm. The opening of an office in such a vibrant economy as Aberdeen and the North-east is a key part of our expansion throughout Scotland.

"Aberdeen is an ideal location to provide a dynamic service to both the residential and rural markets in the North-east."

Last year, the firm expanded its farm and estate management services through a merger with Angus and Aberdeen-based farm and agricultural specialists, Hayes Macfarlane.

James Galbraith said: "It has been very fulfilling to be Chairman of a firm where teamwork has been the key to success. I look forward to still contributing as a partner and I feel that we are well equipped to go from strength to strength across our main business streams of rural, commercial, residential property and energy / renewables."

CKD Galbraith has also made a number of strategic promotions within the firm with Philippa Cliff (rural, Inverness) becoming a Partner and Caroline Campbell (rural, Ayr), David Corrie, (residential, Castle Douglas), Alastair Harington (rural, Perth) and Sally-Anne Cairns (Inverness) all being made Senior Associates.   

These promotions allow for continued development within CKD Galbraith, as well as enabling the firm to provide an unrivalled breadth and quality of expertise and service through its network of offices across Scotland.