Introducing Lee Mason, Assure’s visionary founder and Managing Director.  Lee is driven by a passion for talent, innovation, and building strong client relationships.  His motto, “Two ears, one mouth—listen more, talk less, and learn faster,” reflects his commitment to constant growth.  Beyond shaping success stories, Lee enjoys tackling DIY projects (with mixed results) and imagines lively dinners with influential figures. Discover more about Lee’s journey in this Meet the Team feature. 

How did you get started in the world of service charge?  I started my career with the Burton Group (later Arcadia until its demise) as a Graduate Estate Manager.  This was a varied role supporting a broader team on all Estate Management matters.  Then a decision was made to create a Property Services Team to handle service charges, insurance, tenant management & town centre management.  This allowed others to focus on rent reviews/lease renewals etc.  I became Property Services Manager and a large part of my role was to focus on service charge as we had a huge liability, the largest in the UK at the time.  That’s where it all began!

Why did you start Assure?  Having spent 12 years working for another Consultant, I had the opportunity to start Assure with a clean sheet of paper.  That really appealed to me.  The timing was key due to changes in technology that we have been able to embrace.  Also, I knew the market and the experts within it so we were able to recruit effectively – all talented people.  We have built  a wonderful team.  That was always my number 1 priority – so much better going to work with fantastic people.

What is the best part of your role?  I enjoy seeing other people develop, picking up the skills necessary to be successful in this challenging environment.  The other fulfilling part is recruitment, finding the right people to join our Employee-Owned business.  People that understand what customer service really means.

What do you think is the biggest strength of Assure right now?  It’s not one thing, its three things: The People, The Systems & our clients.  It’s all about relationships and understanding clients’ needs then making investments to come up with market leading solutions.  We have an innovative and challenging (in a good way) culture.

What was your favourite subject at school?  I loved my sport but after that maths was always my thing and latterly Economics at A Level, beginning to be able to apply knowledge to the real world felt a bit different…I went on to do Urban Land Economics at University.

What new skill would you like to learn?  DIY – I don’t have a strong track record.  Things can get worse after I have had a go!

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given, or that you would pass on to others?  You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen first (and most) and you will learn fast.  The most interesting people tend to listen more than they speak.

If you could invite three famous people (past or present) to dinner, who would you choose?  Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Bobby Robson (ex-England Manager).

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