First for Auctions has promoted Daniel Gale to National Auctions Director as the LRG-owned business looks to expand its auction operation across the UK.
Gale (main picture, inset) moves up from Head of Auctions and will retain responsibility for the strategic direction and performance of the business, alongside an increased focus on national growth.
This will include expanding First for Auctions’ network of independent estate agency partners and strengthening the auction proposition across LRG’s residential sales businesses.
The promotion follows a period of growth for the online auction operation, including its largest auction to date in October 2025, when it offered a catalogue of 70 lots.
PARTNER NETWORK
First for Auctions says sales during August and September 2025 exceeded £19m, with an 82% success rate.
The business has also been expanding its partnership model, which allows independent estate agents to provide a managed auction service under their own branding while retaining the relationship with their clients.
Recent partner transactions include a three-bedroom house in Tidworth that sold 83% above its guide price and a seven-bedroom period property in Wimbledon Village that achieved £3.552m – more than £1m above guide.
Gale began his property career in 2005 and joined Romans, now part of LRG, in 2007. He moved into its Auctions and Commercial team in 2010 and became Head of Auctions in 2022, when LRG brought its existing auction operations together under the First for Auctions brand.
NATIONAL EXPANSION
Kevin Shaw, National Sales Managing Director at LRG, says: “Daniel’s promotion reflects both what he has achieved at First for Auctions and the scale of the opportunity ahead.
“He has developed the business into a modern, national and increasingly partnership-led operation, delivering strong results for sellers while giving estate agents a valuable additional route to market.”
Gale says the auction market has changed significantly during his career, with more sellers considering it as a first-choice route rather than simply an alternative for harder-to-sell properties.
He adds: “We have built a service that allows agents to offer those benefits while retaining their relationship with the client, supported by our specialist team throughout the process.
“My focus will be on taking that model to more agents across the country, investing in our people and service, and continuing to demonstrate the breadth of properties that can achieve successful outcomes through auction.”
