Personnel changes at Knight Frank in Exeter have been hailed as a key strategic move by the agency.

The Exeter Express & Echo reports that Jane Summers, a waterfront property specialist, has been promoted to associate after six years at the firm, while a former employee of the Chancellors group of estate agents, Harriet Gray, is to join as a junior sales negotiator.

Ms Gray is expected to manage the branch''s new home activities in east Devon.

Miles Kevin, the head of the residential development team at the Exeter outpost of the agency, told the newspaper: "These appointments are an important part of our strategy to extend the residential development services we offer in the south-west."

Knight Frank has continued to grow over the last 20 months, with the firm revealing earlier this month that it had increased the number of people it employs by nine per cent.

It has also opened four new branches in the south of the country and plans to open new offices at some point early next year.