Chris Currell
Chris Currell is the founder and Chairman of Currell, a chain of Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors located in London. The Company was founded in 1990 and has continually expanded its operations to create a network of local offices and departments with over 75 employees.
‘Change and adapt’ has been the key to the business. Today the practice is progressing its business in mainland China and South East Asia, having been selling in the latter for the past 4 years.
Chris, a father of 5, continues to play an active role in raising funds for charitable causes. As a charity auctioneer he has conducted auctions for NSPCC, Broadway London, Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, Warrior Programme as well as for a number of churches and schools.
His passion for contemporary culture has resulted in Chris becoming a collector of contemporary and 20th Century Art and a keen promoter and supporter of local artistic talent in the communities within which he lives and works.
The “Currell Collection” now comprises around 150 works of art including paintings, sculpture, tapestry and photographs from emerging artists from the UK, Europe and Latin America.
His dual passion for business and art aligned with his extensive business contacts have resulted in many clients being introduced to the various forms of modern art and an appreciation of the local initiatives which are a central tenet that drives the Currell business.
Highlights
I started with a business plan which was about one paragraph long and a loan from Barclays and I just jumped in.
There wasn't too much thought about going into business on my own, I just did it.
I was known in the insolvency field then and if you cast your mind back to 1990, it was going pretty pear shaped.
I was disposing of assets with colleagues as I built the business around the country.
No-one goes to school to learn how to manage a business, so we've had to learn from our mistakes and there have been quite a few.
It's taken a while just to realise that you pay for what you get.
Surround yourself with good people, people who are far more competent than you.
I love going out to meet people and seeking out new opportunities, opening new doors and seeing what's out there.
A guy I trained under told me, look up above you, look at the chimney pots wherever you go, look at the buildings and see things that you wouldn't normally see at eye level.