Our Team of Experts

Mark Cunningham AssocRICS | MTPI | MNAEA | MIFSM
Leasehold Director, Anthony James Property Management – Vice Chair, Community Link Foundation

Mark Cunningham pairs heavyweight professional credentials with a people-first mindset to keep leasehold communities safe, compliant and financially confident. As Leasehold Director at Anthony James, he has modernised the firm’s operations—from digital service-charge tracking to proactive Building Safety Act workflows—so residents see clear, cost-aware solutions rather than red-tape headaches.

• Multi-disciplinary expertise. An Associate member of RICS, Member of The Property Institute, professional member of the National Association of Estate Agents and Member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Mark blends surveying precision, agency insight and fire-risk discipline into every management plan.

• Results that respect the bottom line. His NEBOSH-backed health-and-safety strategies prioritise pragmatic fixes that protect both people and pockets, earning the trust of directors who want crystal-clear advice before committing funds.

• Culture & growth champion. Steering Anthony James’s expansion alongside the Sales and Finance leads, Mark mentors a multidisciplinary team whose solution-driven ethos delivers measurable efficiency gains year after year.

• Community advocate. As Vice Chair of Southport’s Community Link Foundation, he channels expertise and energy into local grant programmes—demonstrating that first-class property stewardship and community uplift go hand-in-hand.

Whether translating complex legislation for money-conscious leaseholders or aligning contractors on a tight remediation timeline, Mark brings authoritative knowledge, steady leadership and genuine empathy to every conversation—solidifying his reputation as a trusted, modern voice in UK residential property management.

Lyn Cunningham – Compliance & Finance Lead

Lyn Cunningham is the operational backbone of Anthony James, fusing meticulous financial oversight with an unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence.

• Compliance authority – Lyn maintains the company’s full suite of statutory obligations, from ARMA-Q and RICS standards to evolving Building Safety Act requirements, ensuring every process is audit-ready and risk-resilient.

• Financial steward – She oversees all service-charge and statutory accounts, translating complex numbers into clear, decision-ready insights that protect client funds and keep budgets on track.

• Rental-team captain – Day-to-day, Lyn drives the lettings division with a keen eye on occupancy targets, contractor performance and tenant satisfaction—delivering a seamless experience that balances speed, fairness and profitability.

• Productivity powerhouse – Known for her ability to juggle deadlines without dropping a detail, she sets the pace and the standard for the wider team, pairing laser-focused delivery schedules with a warm, solution-oriented customer ethos.

Whether scrutinising compliance registers, closing year-end accounts or resolving a rental query at speed, Lyn keeps Anthony James running with precision, integrity and a people-first touch that clients and colleagues trust.

Jacqui Holt – Sales Director

Jacqui Holt is the strategic force behind the meteoric rise of Anthony James’s Sales Department. Since taking the helm, she has:

• Tripled team capacity and performance – driving year-on-year growth and positioning AJ as Southport’s go-to agency for results-focused sales.

• Pioneered our trademark VIP Personal Service – a single-person, start-to-finish model that leaves “old-school dinosaur” agents standing. Every seller and buyer deals with one dedicated professional—Jacqui, Nicole or Gemma—ensuring seamless communication, accountability and peace of mind from valuation to completion.

• Integrated leasehold expertise – her close collaboration with Marie Wilde and the wider Leasehold team unlocks swift resolutions to even the most complex leasehold hurdles, cutting delays and safeguarding clients’ budgets.

• Set the service benchmark – Jacqui’s blend of sharp market insight, negotiation finesse and genuine empathy delivers an experience clients rave about—and competitors chase.

A fully qualified expert with deep local knowledge, Jacqui leads by example, empowering her team to “hammer home” superb service on every transaction. The result: happier clients, quicker completions and a sales division that’s redefining what estate agency can be.

Nicole is one of our Associate Partners specialising in residential property sales. A property enthusiast herself, Nicole has lived, worked and raised her family locally for many years and knows Southport, Birkdale and surrounding areas extremely well- Birkdale Village being a particular favourite! Having previously worked as part of our Sales Team, Nicole is now an Associate Partner of Anthony James and carries out valuations, lists properties, negotiates sales and supports her clients through to completions well as being a consistent point of contact for her buyers looking for the perfect home.

After originally living and working in South Manchester, Jake relocated to Southport to be with Anthony James at the start of 2021. He is a key member within the rentals team having worked within the lettings industry since 2017. He liaises with Landlords and Tenants to ensure tenancies run smoothly, paperwork is up to date and maintenance/repairs are carried out promptly. Jake is responsible for his own portfolio and is the first point of contact for his Landlord and Tenants to provide friendly on hand support with all of their property needs.

Ellie works in the rentals team as a property co-ordinator, managing properties in the Southport and Liverpool areas. Ellie is diligent in ensuring that the tenant’s move in process runs smoothly and efficiently, for both the landlord and tenant and throughout the course of the tenancy. Ellie can be spotted in the office typing away with freshly painted nails every week.

Gemma is one of our Associate Partners
specialising in residential property sales. Previously working within
retail for over eleven years, Gemma lives and breathes sales with her
infectious smile and cheeky charm resulting in an excellent business network.
She started with the AJ team in October 2022 alongside our rental team and has
since moved her way into the world of Sales. Being an adopted ‘’sandgrounder’’
Gemma has lived within Southport almost all of her life. It is not uncommon to
find Gemma frequenting the best bars in town searching for the finest wine
whilst also being the best mummy possible. Gemma provides services including valuations, marketing, sales negotiation and supporting her
clients through to completions as well as being a consistent point of contact
for her buyers looking for the perfect home.

Mandy born and bred in Southport joined the family business in May 2023. However, she is not new to the industry. Having worked within customer services for over twenty years, Mandy decided it was time to join our award-winning team. When Mandy is not in the office, you can catch her at various gym classes and taking her two boys along the local hiking trails of Merseyside & Lancashire. With her passion and eagerness to succeed, along with her famous cheeky smile you can be rest assured that Mandy will look after our clients and customers every step of the way.

Suzie joined Anthony James in January 2024 and has quickly become a valued member of our rentals team. Previously working in estate agency & retail for over twenty years, she has exceptional customer service experience to put our client and customer’s minds at ease and will always go the extra mile. Having lived in Southport all her life making her a true ”Sandgrounder”, if you don’t catch Suzie in the office then you will most likely see her testing the local coffee shops for the best possible brew. Suzie truly has a wide array of local knowledge making her a true asset towards the services we can offer.

Nigel Ball MIFSM is the steady hand—and keen eye—behind Anthony James’s Fire Risk Compliance and Site Inspection programmes. An accomplished project manager with two decades in construction, Nigel stepped into the role of Site Surveyor in July 2022 and quickly became the linchpin of our health-and-safety operations.

Fire-risk authority: As a Member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Nigel conducts thorough annual health-and-safety visits, producing pragmatic action plans that keep blocks compliant, safe and cost-effective.

Director liaison: He works shoulder-to-shoulder with resident directors, translating legislation into clear, budget-savvy solutions for repairs, maintenance and statutory checks.

Team leadership: Partnering with Paul Dwan, Nigel heads the Fire Risk Compliance and Site Inspection teams, providing vital support to Mark Cunningham and mentoring newer assessors.

Construction nous: Twenty years on-site means he spots structural, roofing and access issues before they escalate—saving leaseholders both time and money.

Beyond surveys and risk assessments, Nigel serves as an Adult Officer in the Army Cadet Force, where his calm leadership inspires the next generation. And when the clipboard closes, you might find him “researching” Southport’s finest real ales—strictly for medicinal purposes, of course.

Dependable, knowledgeable and endlessly approachable, Nigel is a tremendous pillar of the AJ team, keeping our buildings—and our people—safe, compliant and confidently prepared.

Kevin Dodd – Statutory Accounts & Companies House Specialist

Kevin Dodd is Anthony James’s precision accountant, renowned for pin-point accuracy and a meticulous eye that catches every decimal and lease covenant before they hit the ledger.

• Accounts without compromises – From bank reconciliations to extended trial balances and year-end audits, Kevin’s work is defined by flawless arithmetic and deadline discipline, ensuring service-charge and statutory accounts land on time, every time.

• Lease analysis maestro – Years of scrutinising complex residential and mixed-use leases mean he apportions costs correctly, flags restrictive clauses early and equips the leasehold team with rock-solid figures they can trust.

• Companies House authority – Filing confirmation statements, performing company-secretary duties and navigating evolving legislation are Kevin’s daily rhythm; his proactive monitoring keeps every AJ-managed company fully compliant and audit-ready.

• Relentless output, calm delivery – Whether juggling contractor payments, payroll journals or inter-company reconciliations, Kevin maintains a steady cadence that safeguards schedules and underpins the wider team’s customer commitments. 

Detail-driven, legislation-literate and unflappable under pressure, Kevin is a powerhouse behind the scenes—transforming intricate numbers and legal fine print into clear, compliant outcomes for clients and colleagues alike.

Marie Wilde is the AJ team’s resident legal maestro—an accomplished former conveyancer whose depth of property-law expertise and razor-sharp response times have long made her the go-to authority for colleagues and local solicitors alike. Over her years with Anthony James, Marie has perfected the art of assembling watertight legal packs at pace and fielding every sales-phase query from our leasehold specialists with calm, confidence and crystal-clear advice.

An Associate of The Property Institute, she pairs academic rigour with an approachable style that puts clients, solicitors and surveyors instantly at ease. Whether navigating complex title issues or smoothing last-minute hitches, Marie transforms legal obstacles into streamlined solutions—cementing her reputation as a tremendous (and much-admired) asset to the AJ family.

Georgia Broomhead is a key point of contact in the Anthony James Leasehold team, coordinating block management, maintenance projects and resident communications with calm precision and an architect’s eye for detail.

• Qualified & knowledgeable – Georgia holds the IRPM Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Leasehold Management, underpinning her day-to-day advice with recognised industry standards.

• Project-driven block management – From scheduling cyclical works to steering contractors and tracking budgets, she keeps every moving part aligned, transparent and on time for directors and residents alike.

• Clear, people-first communicator – Her background in design studies and customer-facing roles means she excels at translating technical issues into practical, cost-aware solutions that put clients at ease.

• Team culture champion – Georgia’s organised approach (and her well-guarded stash of sweets) help maintain morale and momentum across the office—though Mark Cunningham still does his best to find the hidden treats.

Dependable, solutions-focused and always approachable, Georgia brings both professional rigour and a touch of light-hearted energy to the AJ family.

Leila O’Brien ATPI brings a calm, solution-driven presence to Anthony James as an accomplished Property Coordinator and qualified Associate of The Property Institute.

• Trusted front-line expertise – As one of the main points of contact in our leasehold team, Leila partners closely with Georgia to keep communication flowing smoothly between directors, residents, contractors and solicitors, ensuring queries are resolved and decisions actioned without delay.

• Coordination mastery – From organising major works schedules to tracking compliance milestones and contractor performance, she blends meticulous organisation with a level-headed approach that keeps projects on time, on budget and fully transparent for stakeholders.

• People-first problem-solver – Drawing on nearly two decades in roles centred on guiding and supporting people, Leila excels at distilling complex property issues into clear, confidence-building advice—particularly valuable when costs and safety are top of mind for clients.

• Professional poise – Whether she’s defusing a difficult service-charge conversation or aligning multiple contractors on tight deadlines, her measured communication style turns potential friction into efficient progress.

Outside the office, Leila re-charges by spending quality time with her family and staying active at the gym—habits that help her maintain the energy and focus she brings to every challenge. A steady hand, a sharp organiser and a proven communicator, Leila is an invaluable professional asset to the AJ team.

Louise plays two vital roles within the office, both in her primary role and secondary role as Head of Health and Wellbeing. Louise monitors staff hydration levels and ensures there are always plenty of cups of tea in circulation, as well as liaising with external blue chip organisations such as The Post Office and High Street Banks.

Katie Ford has a mighty customer-service powerhouse whose warm energy and sharp eye for detail were forged in fast-paced hospitality, events and front-of-house roles. Whether coordinating large gatherings, guiding guest journeys or juggling multiple priorities at once, she turns every interaction into an opportunity to exceed expectations and build loyal relationships.

Listeners to Southport’s airwaves might recognise her famous “Mighty” surname—service and community spirit truly run in the family—and Katie channels that same buzz into everything she does. Her dream? To bring that enthusiasm, resilience and people-first mindset to Anthony James Property Management. Anthony James are delighted to welcome her mighty experience into the AJ family, confident she’ll make an immediate, positive difference from day one.

AJ is responsible for all internal office staff complaint handling. He also mystery shops all local sandwich bars for free food during his lunchtime walk. AJ is one of the key team members on the “Meet and Greet” team.