A picture of turmoil is emerging at the UK’s largest estate agent, Countrywide, as it emphasises its retail qualities.

It comes days after the firm’s sales and lettings divisions were merged under Samantha Tyrer, who joined from a retail rather than an agency background, on September 1.

It is understood that some 10 to 15 top-level management jobs are at risk across the UK and, with an average spell of 15 years at working for Countrywide, the redundancy bill – should it include gardening leave – could prove expensive.

Online agent eMoov cheekily hinted that it would like to see their CVs and said that the changes at Countrywide were all about whether it goes online.

It is thought, however, that those people with jobs at risk could now apply for new, but very different, jobs.

Yesterday, estate agency division operations director Simon Perkins resigned from Countrywide. Insiders said he was apparently unhappy to go along with the redundancy plan.

Highly regarded, he was appointed in April 2012. He will be leaving at the end of next month.

Countrywide said yesterday evening: “Simon will continue to play an active role until he leaves, helping to support Sam Tyrer and the Retail Board during the transitional period. We wish Simon well for the future.”

The changes come in a month which most estate agents regard as pivotal for sales when they would try to avoid disruption.

Countrywide yesterday admitted there are “people at risk” and confirmed redundancy consultations, while saying that there are new openings.

Just months ago, group estate agency managing director Bob Scarff and group commercial director Nick Dunning both left, followed by the departure of high profile mortgage boss Nigel Stockton.

The highly respected Scarff left abruptly  after a 37-year career with Countrywide. It was said at the time of his departure that he remained the only person on the board who had ever actually sold a house. He said at the time that he would not be leaving the industry but his next move is not clear.

Intriguingly, the well-respected finance service boss Stockton left just days ago on September 1 to become chief executive of wealth management business Bellpenny – whose chairman is Stockton’s old boss Grenville Turner, previously Countrywide CEO and who remains the group’s chairman. He has yet to comment.

While new group chief executive Alison Platt, who joined a year ago from BUPA, has denied that Scarff and Dunning were made redundant, both men notably declined to comment on their departures.

It is understood that Alyn North, formerly chief finance and operating officer for London and premier and commercial divisions, also departed this summer.

In July, it was announced that Samantha Tyrer, joining from Dixons Carphone, would be heading up the chain’s combined estate and letting agency business.

Yesterday, Platt said: “We’re committed to growing our business by building on the position and strengths we have and adding new capability and experience where needed.

“During this time of organisational change, we are moving at pace so we can get on with driving the business forward and delivering our purpose of bringing people and property together.

“We notified those who will be directly impacted by planned changes and consultations are ongoing as we have more roles to fit within the new structure than we have people at risk.

“There is huge potential and opportunity for those who wish to apply and we anticipate that the vast majority of roles in our new structure will be filled by our own talented people, many of whom are excited by the opportunity to move and progress within the Group.”

While it is not known what is driving the latest upheaval, Platt did say in an exclusive interview with EYE that Countrywide would be launching an online agency offering, whether via acquisition or launch.

It is understood that Countrywide has approached eMoov at least once, and may have done so again more recently.

Last night, eMoov boss Russell Quirk said: “The UK’s largest estate agency has been undergoing a substantial change since Alison Platt highlighted the online proposition as part of her focus on being brought into the business and it would seem this latest announcement is a step further towards the online sector for Countrywide.

“The online model is far leaner than that of a high street branch and as a result the operating costs are substantially less, resulting in a fairer fee for UK sellers.

“This latest move by Countrywide appears to be an attempt to re-align their business model with an eye on becoming a more streamlined business.

“Despite the traditional estate agency sector previously dismissing the threat of the online model as a non-entity, it would seem the high street is now starting to hurt.”

Quirk said: “My heart goes out to those in the firing line at Countrywide although Alison Platt tweeted to say they had new roles, so hopefully not everyone will be put out of work.

“However, should they feel a change of scenery, eMoov are always on the lookout for top-notch industry professionals. Our growth has allowed us to hire experts in product development, media, finance and marketing from a variety of sectors over the course of the last year.

“In battle there are always casualties. In the race to deliver a great service, at a great value, consistently on a nationwide scale, we all know how this ends. Online wins.”

Our revealing interview with Platt is here