John Hards is re-joining today Countrywide as national lettings director.

He  formally retired last year as joint managing director of the lettings business, but retained a consultancy role.

Margaret Longden, the other joint managing director, left Countrywide last month, with no statement being released about her departure, and is now interim chief operations officer for a charity, Reclaim, which specialises in youth leadership.

 The statement about Hards says his appointment reinforces Countrywide’s commitment “to ensuring they have industry experts leading their teams to support the build back of the key sales and lettings business”.

Since CEO Alison Platt’s departure in January, Countrywide has made it clear that it will welcome back talent that departed during her ‘retail’ reign.  Other announcements about returnees are expected very shortly.