Stewart Cook

Stewart studied Civil Engineering at Southampton University before joining the British Army. Following officer training at Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served in the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers seeing tours in Hong Kong, Nepal, Canada and Bosnia.

On leaving the Forces, he undertook an MBA at City University Business School (now Cass Business School), specialising in International Business Strategy, before embarking on a career in eBusiness Strategy Consulting for clients that included NatWest Bank and Internet Consultancy Red Snapper in London, and Reuters in New York.

The move to France in 2002 was due to be a year-long sabbatical – to renovate an old farmhouse – before returning to the City, but the quality of life in France has been all too alluring and the subsequent decision to stay was an easy one!

Whilst Classic French Homes fills a very obvious gap in the market for a quality etate agency in the Dordogne, we established the business for entirely selfish reasons – it pays me to pursue my greatest interests in life – photography; property & architecture; meeting people; and doing business on the internet.

Michelle Denton

Michelle studied Law at Southampton University, and although she joined ICI on their prestigious Graduate Fastrack Scheme, the draw of Law was too great and within a year she joined the Bar School in London on a scholarship. On being called to the Bar, she completed her pupillage at the criminal set 9-12 Bell Yard where she became a tenant and practiced Crime and Family Law for a number of years before the move to France.

Being in France offers Michelle a great work/life balance, allowing her to spend plenty of time with our three children whilst at the same time being very involved with a career. In addition to being a key part of Classic French Homes, she has her own business managing property lettings.