Board of Directors
There are eight members of our Board of Directors, the Chairman, three Executive Directors and four Non-Executive Directors. The Executive Directors have extensive experience in the housebuilding industry and provide a direct line of control between the Company and its operating businesses. The Non-Executive Directors give a balance to the Board and bring a wide breadth of experience and skills.
The Board routinely meets seven times a year and has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its consideration and decision. This schedule includes the approval of the Group’s strategy, major investments, annual and half year results, interim management statements and trading updates, review of performance, dividend policy, monitoring risk and ensuring adequate financial resources are available. The schedule is reviewed on an annual basis.
The Board members are as follows:
Nicholas Wrigley
Chairman (57)
Nicholas Wrigley is an Executive Vice Chairman of Rothschild London. He has over 25 years’ mergers and acquisitions experience at Rothschild and is a qualified accountant.
Nicholas was appointed Chairman on 21 April 2011 having been on the Board since 1 February 2006. He is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Jeff Fairburn
Group Chief Executive (46)
Jeff Fairburn joined the Group in 1989. He was promoted to North East Managing Director and North East Regional Chairman before assuming the role of North Division Chief Executive in 2006. In January 2012 he was appointed Group Managing Director and became Group Chief Executive following the AGM on 18 April 2013.
Jeff was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2009 and is a member of the Risk Committee.
Mike Killoran BA (HONS.) ACA
Group Finance Director (51)
Mike Killoran joined the Company in 1996. A chartered accountant by profession, Mike worked in manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors before joining the Group. He took over his present role in April 1999.
Mike is a member of the Risk Committee.
Nigel Greenaway
South Division Chief Executive (52)
Nigel Greenaway joined the Group in 1986. He was appointed Managing Director of the South Midlands operating business in 2001 and was promoted to Birmingham Regional Chairman in 2004. He became Western Regional Chairman in 2005 before being appointed to his current role of South Division Chief Executive in that same year. Nigel was appointed to the Board on 8 January 2013.
Nigel is a member of the Risk Committee.
Richard Pennycook
Senior Independent Director (48)
A chartered accountant and graduate of Bristol University, Richard is also a non-executive Director of Thomas Cook Group Plc. Previous roles include Group Finance Director of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, Group Finance Director of RAC plc, Finance Director of J D Wetherspoon plc, CEO of Welcome Break Holdings PLC and non-executive Director of Richer Sounds plc.
Richard was appointed to the Board on 14 March 2008 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee. Richard was appointed the Senior Independent Director on 19 April 2012.
Jonathan Davie
Non-Executive Director (66)
Jonathan Davie was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2010. He is non-executive Chairman of IG Group Holdings Plc and First Avenue LLP and he is a non-executive Director of Hansa Trust Plc. Mr Davie’s previous roles include Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse, CEO of BZW Global Equities and non-executive Director of Credit Suisse UK Private Bank.
Jonathan is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.
Mark Preston
Non-Executive Director (45)
Mark Preston, a chartered surveyor, is the Group Chief Executive of Grosvenor Group Limited, an appointment he took up in 2008. He is a non-executive Director of Sonae Sierra SGPS. He is also a board member of The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, a Member of the (University of) Cambridge Land Economy Advisory Board and a Member of the Greenprint Advisory Board and a Trustee of the Westminster Foundation.
Mark was appointed to the Board on 9 January 2012 and is a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees.
Marion Sears
Non-Executive Director (50)
Marion Sears is the Senior Independent non-executive Director of Dunelm Group Plc. She is also a non-executive Director of investment trusts Octopus AIM VCT Plc and Fidelity European Values Plc.
Marion was previously Senior Independent non-executive Director of Zetar Plc and held executive positions at Glaxo Group Plc, UBS, Baring Brothers and JP Morgan.
Marion was appointed to the Board on 8 January 2013 and is Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.