Leadership

Board of Directors

• 

  Roger Devlin

  Chairman

  Experience and external appointments:

  Roger Devlin was independent on appointment and has extensive business, leadership and governance experience, having held executive and non-executive roles in a variety of sectors such as corporate finance, gaming, leisure, pubs & brewing, sport and transport.

  Roger is an experienced Chairman and was, until April 2021, the Chairman of William Hill PLC. Roger’s other previous appointments include Chairman of Marston’s PLC and Senior Independent Director at the Football Association.

  In May 2022 Roger was appointed to the Board of The Sutton Trust.

  Skills and contribution:

  Roger’s wealth of experience gives him a strong understanding of corporate governance, shareholder and stakeholder views, banking and finance, customer propositions and leadership.

  Roger’s expertise and personal qualities enable him to effectively lead the Board and drive change within the business. Roger makes a valuable contribution towards the development and execution of the Group’s strategy and ensures that the Board functions effectively by facilitating open and productive debate, providing constructive challenge and by demonstrating objective judgement.

  • Date of appointment: 1 June 2018
  • NNomination Committee (Chair)
  • CFTrustee of the Persimmon Charitable Foundation
  • Age: 65
• 

  Dean Finch

  Group Chief Executive

  Experience and external appointments:

  Dean is a widely experienced senior executive with a strong commercial, financial and operational track record spanning a 30 year career in Europe and North America. Dean is also a qualified chartered accountant.

  Dean was the Chief Executive Officer of National Express Group plc from 2010 to 2020, and during his tenure built the business into Britain's leading transport group. Prior to that Dean was Group Chief Executive of Tube Lines and Group Finance Director and Group Chief Operating Officer at FirstGroup plc, where he also held a number of other senior roles.

  In May 2021 Dean was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Diploma Plc.

  Skills and contribution:

  Dean is a seasoned, well-respected and proven Chief Executive with an exceptional record. Whilst at National Express Dean delivered substantial strategic and operational progress over a sustained period, delivering value for all stakeholders while developing a distinct and cohesive culture, focused on customer care and service.

  Dean leads the Group’s programme of change in its drive to become Britain’s leading homebuilder; delivering for all stakeholders in the business whilst continuing to deliver strong financial returns to investors.

  • Date of appointment: 28 September 2020
  • CFTrustee of the Persimmon Charitable Foundation
  • SSustainability Committee (Chair)
  • Age: 56
• 

  Nigel Mills

  Senior Independent Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Nigel Mills is the Senior Independent Director at John Wood Group Plc and was previously a Senior Advisor at Citigroup Global Markets. Nigel was Chairman of Corporate Broking at Citi between 2005 and 2015, and Chief Executive at Hoare Govett between 1995 and 2005. Nigel has extensive experience in advising some of the UK’s largest companies. Nigel is also currently a Director of The Queen’s Club and the Senior Independent Director of Greggs plc.

  Skills and contribution:

  Nigel has strong commercial judgement drawing on a 30 year career advising quoted companies. He has broad experience of financial markets, strategy, risk, shareholder attitudes and corporate governance, which enable him to provide sound advice to the Board. Between February 2018 and May 2018 Nigel served as Acting Chairman and led the process which resulted in the appointment of the current Chairman, Roger Devlin.

  • Date of appointment: 4 April 2016
  • NNomination Committee
  • RRemuneration Committee
  • Age: 67

• 

  Annemarie Durbin

  Independent Non-Executive Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Annemarie has 30 years’ broad-based retail, commercial, corporate and institutional banking experience across Asia, Africa & the Middle East and is an experienced executive coach and mentor. Annemarie is currently Chair of Cater Allen Limited, Remuneration Committee Chair of Petershill Partners plc and Senior Ringfence Director and Remuneration Chair of Santander UK plc. She spent the bulk of her executive career at Standard Chartered, a FTSE 100 international bank. She held a variety of global business and functional roles including being CEO of a FTSE 250 equivalent listed company in Thailand, culminating in membership of the Group Executive Committee. Annemarie was board Chair of Merryck & Co. Ltd, a leading mentoring group until July 2021, and was Remuneration Committee Chair of WH Smith PLC until January 2022.

  Skills and contribution:

  Annemarie is a highly experienced international business executive, with a strong background in banking, diversity & inclusion, transformation, corporate governance and human resources. Annemarie is a qualified lawyer, coach and conflict mediator. Annemarie’s experience and knowledge are valuable additions to the Board as the Group continues to implement its programme of business improvement.

  • Date of appointment: 1 July 2020
  • RRemuneration Committee (Chair)
  • NNomination Committee
  • Age: 59
• 

  Andrew Wyllie CBE

  Independent Non-Executive Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Andrew is an experienced construction sector executive and was Chief Executive of Costain Group PLC for 14 years, until his retirement in 2019. Previously, Andrew was Managing Director of Taylor Woodrow Construction and a member of the Group Executive Committee at Taylor Woodrow Plc. During his career Andrew has worked on a variety of major contracts and projects in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, the Falklands, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

  Andrew currently serves as the Senior Independent Director of Yorkshire Water and as Remuneration Committee Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was previously a Non-Executive Director of BMT Group Limited and Scottish Water, and President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

  Andrew has an MBA from London Business School and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. For his services to Engineering and Construction, Andrew was awarded a CBE.

  Skills and contribution:

  Andrew has a long and successful track record within the construction industry and brings highly relevant sector experience to the Board. Andrew’s industry knowledge, expertise and perspective is valuable to the Board as the Group continues to build a sustainable business.

  • Date of appointment: 4 January 2021
  • A&RAudit & Risk Committee
  • NNomination Committee
  • Age: 60
• 

  Shirine Khoury-Haq

  Independent Non-Executive Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Shirine is the Chief Executive Officer of The Co-operative Group, having been appointed in August 2022. Prior to this, Shirine was the Chief Financial Officer of The Co-operative Group, where she was responsible for finance, technology, transformation and corporate development, and also served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Co-operative Group’s Life Services sector, which included the Insurance, Legal Services and Funeral businesses.

  Before joining The Co-operative Group, Shirine was Chief Operating Officer of Lloyd’s of London, the insurance market, and had previously held senior positions at Catlin, IBM and McDonald’s. Shirine is a qualified accountant and was previously a Non-Executive Director of the Post Office.

  Skills and contribution:

  Shirine has a wealth of experience in finance, technology and real estate in businesses operating across a range of sectors. Shirine’s appointment adds to the balance of skills and expertise on the Board, which will be of great benefit as the Group continues to build a sustainable business in every sense.

  • Date of appointment: 1 July 2021
  • A&RAudit & Risk Committee (Chair)
  • NNomination Committee
  • Age: 51

• 

  Alexandra Depledge MBE

  Independent Non-Executive Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Alex is a technology entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Resi.co.uk, the UK's largest residential architectural practice and a leading property technology business. Prior to establishing Resi.co.uk, Alex co-founded Hassle.com, Europe's largest domestic cleaning online marketplace. Alex previously sat on the board of the London Economic Action Partnership, the local enterprise partnership chaired by the Mayor of London, which is responsible for investment into London culture and communities.

  Skills and contribution:

  Alex's appointment adds highly relevant skills to the Board. Her impressive entrepreneurial track record of building and scaling consumer facing technology businesses will add further depth to the Board's capabilities.

  • Date of appointment: 1 May 2023
  • NNomination Committee
  • RRemuneration Committee
• 

  Colette O’Shea

  Independent Non-Executive Director

  Experience and external appointments:

  Colette has a wealth of property market investment and development expertise gained in her twenty-year career with one of the UK's leading real estate businesses, Land Securities Group PLC (‘LandSec’). Colette spent the majority of her executive career with LandSec, having held the position of Chief Operating Officer between 2020 and 31 March 2023. Prior to this, Colette held a number of senior executive positions with LandSec, including Managing Director, London & Retail; and Head of Development.

  Skills and contribution:

  With extensive industry-specific experience, and a particular expertise in planning, Colette’s contribution to the Board will be valued. As well as a respected leader, Colette brings a wealth of development and investment knowledge, which will assist the Group with the sector-related challenges which it faces at present and in the longer term.

  • Date of appointment: 1 May 2023
  • NNomination Committee
  • A&RAudit & Risk Committee

• Jason Windsor

  Former Chief Financial Officer

  The following information is provided in accordance with section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006:

  As announced on 27 July 2023, Jason Windsor resigned from the Company and left on 1 September 2023. Jason was paid his salary and benefits up to and including his leave date. Jason will not be eligible to earn a bonus for 2023.

  Jason’s unvested share awards (including all unvested Buy-Out Awards) under the Persimmon 2020 Deferred Bonus Plan and the Persimmon Plc 2017 Performance Share Plan lapsed in full upon leaving the Company. Jason’s vested Buy-Out Award over 67,707 shares is currently subject to a holding period; the shares will be released to Jason at the normal time in March 2025. Jason also remains subject to the Company’s post-employment shareholding requirement for a period of two years following his leave date.

  Full details of Jason Windsor’s remuneration will be disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2023.

• Simon Litherland

  Former Independent Non-Executive Director

  The following information is provided in accordance with section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006:

  On 26 April 2023 Simon Litherland retired from the Board. Simon received his fee up to and including his leave date. Simon will receive no further remuneration from the Company.

  Full details of Simon’s remuneration will be disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ending 31 December 2023.

• Joanna Place

  Former Independent Non-Executive Director

  The following information is provided in accordance with section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006:

  On 26 April 2023 Joanna Place retired from the Board. Joanna received her fee up to and including her leave date. Joanna will receive no further remuneration from the Company.

  Full details of Joanna’s remuneration will be disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ending 31 December 2023.