Home staging firm expands leadership team with fractional chief officers

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 28 March 2024

National homestaging firm Lemon and Lime Interiors has appointed part-time fractional leadership experts in finance and property marketing, to help upscale its business countrywide.

The announcement comes during a pivotal period of growth following the business’ recent funding of £250,000 from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) in partnership with Maven Debt Finance.

Chris Booth has been recruited as fractional chief financial officer and Simon Leadbetter joins as fractional chief marketing officer. Both have supported Elaine Penhaul, founder and director, on a consultatory and mentoring basis throughout recent years.

Founder and principal at financial consultants Foxtrot Twenty, Chris will be primarily working in a strategic finance role, undertaking financial modelling on profitability and cash flow requirement.

Having recently assisted Lemon and Lime in securing the MEIF money, Chris will be helping to tactically deploy the funding and secure further investment opportunities for the firm to expand within the UK.

Chris said:

“Having worked with the team since a rapid point of upturn in 2020, I have a good understanding of the businesses' operations and growth aspirations. Having a perspective outside of the property industry allows me to offer a unique input and I hope to apply principles that will create new opportunities for the business.

“Being Melbourne-based like Lemon and Lime, it’s impressive to see how a small business from the heart of Derbyshire has established a national presence, thanks to Elaine’s determination and entrepreneurial spirit. Lemon and Lime has phenomenal growth potential and I’m excited to be providing support on a more regular basis.”

As fractional chief marketing officer, Simon Leadbetter brings extensive experience in the property industry.

Founder of We Are Unchained, a marketing consultancy service, Simon will oversee the overarching marketing campaign strategy for the year ahead to help enhance the sale opportunities in the premium property staging sector.

With more than 8 years’ experience in the property sector, Simon is the former Global CEO of estate agents Fine & Country and has held further senior marketing roles at agents Keller Williams and Knight Frank. His expertise will enable him to forge future invaluable partnership opportunities for the brand.

Simon said:

“Elaine has proven staging to be an essential part of the property marketing process through her business. She has done a phenomenal job building her voice within the premium estate agent market on her mission to make staging an integral service to help sell property both higher and faster than traditional methods.

“I hope to give a creative insight towards campaigns having worked closely with estate agents and understanding their needs as well as their clients’. From this I aim to help further shift their perspective on how staging is an essential investment.”

Elaine Penhaul, founder and director at Lemon and Lime Interiors, said:

“Our invested interest in growth means we want to ensure we had the leadership team in place to build on this momentum and better understand the challenges of scaling and diversifying.

“We know Chris and Simon’s expertise will help take Lemon and Lime to new heights, and we’re elated by the practical solutions they’ve already been able to implement as we continue to raise our profile with future prospects.”

Photo caption: The team at Lemon and Lime Interiors, including Elaine Penhaul (sat left), founder and director, with new appointments Chris Booth (back right) and Simon Leadbetter (left)

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