Say hello to the new Aucoot team

After the recent news that new Aucoot owner Dan O’Brien has taken the reins from founder John McDavid, we are thrilled to announce the founding team leading this new chapter of the agency.

Joining Dan is Charlie Monaghan, who brings with him six years of experience as Head of Editorial and Brand at The Modern House, and Akua Danso, a registered architect whose career has seen her work in some of the country’s most respected practices. 

Our focus in this new chapter is nurturing and serving the Aucoot community, so this founding team has been crafted to provide our clients and followers with the best experience possible, wether you are looking to buy or sell a home, or simply enjoy looking at our content. As our team grows from here, it will do so with this intention in mind. 

Please learn more about our new team below, and if you have any questions or messages for us, please feel free to send a DM on Instagram or contact us via info@aucoot.com – we would love to hear from you. 

Dan heads up Aucoot having taken the reins of the company in May 2024. As a property professional with over two decades of experience, Dan’s career has seen him expertly negotiate sales in every corner of London, and engage his passion for well-designed homes of all styles and ages.

Prior to Aucoot, Dan worked for Hamptons for over 17 years, during which time he was promoted to Regional Sales Director, overseeing the agency’s north, south, and east London offices. In 2020 he was also appointed Head of Urban Spaces, where he oversaw a period of rapid commercial expansion. He has been the recipient of The Sunday Times Estate Agent of the Year award twice.

Over the course of his career, Dan has seen first-hand the transformative and uplifting effect a home can have on its owners, and at Aucoot he works tirelessly to ensure both buyers and sellers alike receive service that matches the quality of the homes we represent.

Instagram @dan.obrien

Charlie began his career working in editorial roles at Monocle magazine and for Phaidon Press before joining The Modern House in 2016. During his six years at the company, Charlie built and led the editorial and brand team, overseeing all creative content and brand initiatives for both The Modern House and its sister agency, Inigo. While he was in post, the company was referred to as a ‘cultural touchstone’ (Elle Deco) with content described as ‘a source of fascination, inspiration and fantasy’ (The Guardian).

In his consultancy role, Charlie sets the vision for all aspects of the Aucoot brand, from strategic planning to creative direction. He is particularly focused on ensuring that considered storytelling is at the heart of our communications.

Instagram @charlie__monaghan

Akua is a Property Consultant at Aucoot. As a UK-registered architect, Akua brings to her role a wealth of experience working on projects of varying scales for a host of practices, including Gort Scott, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, HUT Architecture and Scott Brownrigg. Highlights of her architectural career include large-scale housing projects, commercial retrofits and private residential design.

Akua is also one of the co-founders of Black Females In Architecture (BFA), a global network and enterprise established to increase the visibility of black and black mixed-heritage women working in the built environment sector. BFA offers support through the provision of a valued community where its members benefit from shared knowledge, guidance, access to job opportunities and wider connections to other design professionals.

Akua’s interests extend to home renovations, interior design, and a deep appreciation for the arts and modern culture.

Instagram @akuaadanso