John D Wood & Co. was established by John Daniel Wood, who opened the doors to its first office at No 6 Mount Street, Mayfair in 1872. Today there are 27 offices situated across London and the south of England, and an international department with 3,000 affiliated partners across the world.
In 1930, headquarters moved to Berkeley Square, where an office remained until the late 1980s. Commercial and development work became a significant part of the company’s business in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1966 the company took the important step for its London residential market by opening its Chelsea Green sales office, where Andy Buchanan, its current longest-serving employee of 49 years, still works.
To date Andy has sold property on 142 of Chelsea’s 145 streets, with clients including a famous American pop singer, British New Wave band members from a well-known Eighties group, a member from arguably the most famous British rock band of the 1960s, an ex-US Secretary of State, members of the Royal Household, and many others who shall remain nameless. A past client said, ‘nobody keeps a secret like John D Wood & Co.’ The company is proud of its reputation for confidentiality and discretion.
In 1982, the commercial side of the company separated, and in 1987 the Residential & Agricultural arm, called John D Wood & Co., was floated on the London Stock Exchange and grew, embracing new technology. Countrywide plc acquired the company in 1997.
In 2015 the International Department was established and the following year the head office relocated to Oxford Street. A programme of expansion began, including the incorporation of Faron Sutaria, providing brand presence in eight new locations. In 2019, the head office moved again to Elizabeth Street in Belgravia, and in 2021 John D Wood & Co. was acquired by Connells, the largest property firm in the UK.
In 2022, its milestone 150th birthday presents the opportunity to look back at historical highlights, like the sale of Dorchester House, Park Lane and the National Sporting Club in Covent Garden and of impressive country estates like Donington Hall and Leeds Castle. Birthday celebrations will take place throughout the year and include adapting the logo to feature the date the business was established, in typeface similar to John Daniel Wood’s signature.
There will also be a series of competitions, kicking off in January, when the first 150 landlords and vendors to instruct a John D Woods & Co. agent will be entered into a prize draw to win dinner at the Dorchester Hotel. The company will also support its local communities by sponsoring key events.
John D Wood & Co. is primed to continue its discreet success in being one of the most authentic and approachable agents to help clients buy and sell their homes on and off-market. It remains committed to offering a bespoke service, a strategic approach to marketing, and local expertise that has been trusted for generations.
As it starts to celebrate its 150th birthday, Polly Ogden Duffy, Managing Director of John D Wood & Co., says, ‘Our values, high standards and first-class levels of service remain at the forefront of our approach. We are a trusted and respected brand, proud to consider our clients as clients for life and we will continue to do the business proud for the next 150 years.’
