John White was appointed Group Chairman in April 2006, previously having been Group Chief Executive for 13 years since 1993. He has spent all his working life in the housing industry. After joining Persimmon in 1979 he was responsible for establishing the Group’s operations in the Midlands, following which he was appointed Regional Chairman for the South. Mr White was appointed to the Board in 1986 and is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and Risk Committee.

Mike Farley was appointed Group Chief Executive in April 2006 following a very successful period as Chief Executive of the original South Division. He joined Persimmon in 1983 and was appointed to the Board in 1989. Mr Farley is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building and was responsible for establishing the Wessex operating business and for developing the business in the Midlands. Mr Farley is a member of the Risk Committee.

Mike Killoran joined the Company in 1996 and was appointed to the Board in January 1999. A chartered accountant by profession, Mr Killoran worked in manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors before joining the Group. He took over his present role in April 1999 and is a member of the Risk Committee.

Jeff Fairburn joined the Group in 1989. He was promoted to Managing Director of the Group’s North East operating business in 2000. Mr Fairburn became North Eastern Regional Chairman in 2005, before assuming his current role of North Division Chief Executive. He was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2009 and is a member of the Risk Committee.

Hamish Leslie Melville is a Managing Director and Chairman of the European Investment Banking Committee of Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited. Mr Leslie Melville was appointed to the Board in 1995. He is Chairman of Mithras Investment Trust and The J P Morgan Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust. He is a member of the Nomination Committee.

David Thompson is Chairman of Marston's PLC. He is also a director of Caledonia Investments Plc and The Tribal Group Plc. Appointed to the Board in August 1999, he is the Senior Independent Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Neil Davidson retired as Chief Executive of Arla Foods UK PLC in June 2005. He is Chairman of the Nickerson Rothwell Group, Chairman of Leicestershire County Cricket Club Limited and a director of Emerging Media. He is a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Nicholas Wrigley was appointed to the Board on 1 February 2006. Mr Wrigley is Managing Director of Rothschild London and a member of its Global Investment Banking Committee and Global Management Committee. He has over 20 years mergers and acquisitions experience at Rothschild, including 3 years in Australia. Before joining Rothschild he qualified as an accountant. Mr Wrigley is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.

Richard Pennycook was appointed to the Board on 14 March 2008. A chartered accountant and graduate of Bristol University, he has since 2005 been the Group Finance Director of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC. Previous roles include Group Finance Director of RAC plc, Finance Director of JD Wetherspoon plc, CEO of Welcome Break Holdings PLC and Non-Executive Director of Richer Sounds plc. Mr Pennycook is a member of the Audit Committee.

Jonathan Davie was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2010. He is Chairman of IG Group Holdings Plc, non-executive Director of Portland Gas Plc and Chairman of First Avenue Partners LLP. 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.