Professional Services

Mark joined Kivells in 1998 and became a director in 2012. Mark earned a bachelors degree at the Royal Agricultural College and gained his MRICS and FAAV qualifications shortly after. Mark was brought up on the family farm and retains a keen interest in agriculture and rural affairs. Mark is a RICS registered Valuer and undertakes a diverse range of rural professional work, including valuations for tax, loan security and expert witness purposes, rural planning, telecommunications, renewables, compulsory purchase/compensation, landlord/tenant, agency and property management.

Mark joined Kivells in 1994 following the completion of a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons) in Real Estate Management at Seale-Hayne. Mark qualified as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 1995/96, and is also a Fellow of the Livestock Auctioneers Association. Mark joined the Kivells Partnership in 1997 and is a Director of the company. Mark heads the Dairy and Pedigree Beef Cattle Auction and Valuation Department with thriving dairy cattle markets at both Holsworthy and Exeter selling over 10,000 dairy cattle per year and conducting nationwide sales of both dairy and pedigree beef cattle. Mark is also part of Kivells Machinery Auctioneering team. Mark conducts the sale of farms and land throughout the West Country, is a specialist in the sale of dairy farms and has also handled the sale of a number of large scale option/promotion agreements for residential development sites. Mark is a RICS Registered Valuer and specialises in providing valuations of rural property, livestock, machinery and farming assets.

Tom returned to Kivells in 2013 having spent time managing rural estate in Cornwall, following his initial training with Kivells in 2006/07. Graduating from Harper Adams University College in 2008 with a Degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management, Tom became a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2009, and a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2014. Tom proudly became a Director of Kivells in 2016. Being an RICS registered Valuer, Tom undertakes a diverse and wide range of valuation and rural professional work, specialising in farm agency, farm subsidies and environmental stewardship schemes throughout the South West.

Ian joined Kivells in 2015 having worked as a Rural Surveyor and Auctioneer in the Midlands. Ian attended Harper Adams University College obtaining a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Rural Enterprise and Land Managements and later achieving his MRICS and FAAV qualifications whilst working in the Midlands. A member of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association (LAA), Ian is based in Exeter Livestock Centre undertaking weekly selling duties of livestock and machinery. Professional work includes the sale of farms and land, valuation work, farm subsidies and grants and compensation work against utility companies.

Phoebe joined Kivells at the start of 2020 following ten years of working in the North Devon and North Cornwall area. She graduated from the Royal Agricultural College in 2007 with a degree in Rural Land Management and became a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2010. Phoebe is an RICS Registered Valuer and conducts a wide range of professional services, specialising in planning, grants and valuation.

Claire joined Kivells in 2017 and enjoys working with farmers and landowners throughout the South West to help keep their business moving forward through changing times. She studied at Harper Adams gaining an honours degree and has also been very involved with Devon Young Farmers Clubs becoming county chairman in 2017.

David joined Kivells in 1992 having been admitted as a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in April 1992 and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1991 having undertaken his studies at the Royal Agricultural University. David joined the partnership after the retirement of his father, Peter. In 2008 David was admitted as a Fellow of the Livestock Auctioneers Association and became national chairman in 2017. David retired as Director for Kivells in July 2024 and is now a Consultant Valuer and Land Agent, Machinery Auctioneer and Cattle Auctioneer for the company.

Kevin Hicks joined the firm in his teens before attending Oxford Brook University where he gained a Bachelor of Science degree in Estate Management, becoming an Associate Member of the RICS in 1981 and a Fellow in 1993. Apart from a very short spell with a development corporation in the South East, Kevin has spent his career dealing with the sale (auction and private treaty) and valuation of all types of property throughout the South West. Kevin retired as Director for Kivells in July 2024 and is now a Consultant for the Professional Services department.