Iain Ferguson CBE
ChairmanAppointed to the Board: September 2019
Experience: Iain was Chief Executive Officer of Tate & Lyle plc, later chairing Berendsen plc and Stobart Group Ltd. He was also Senior Independent Director of Balfour Beatty plc and Non-Executive Director at Greggs plc.
Iain is currently Chairman of Genus plc and externally managed investment trust, Personal Assets Trust plc. In addition, Iain was Lead Independent Director at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Chair of Wilton Park (Agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and a Member of the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP UK Advisory Board. In 2003 Iain became a Commander of the British Empire for his services to the food industry.
What Iain brings to the Board: Iain is a highly experienced public company Chairman, Non- Executive Director and former FTSE 100 CEO. He has extensive and diverse leadership experience and a sound and practical understanding of corporate governance. Iain has a deep appreciation of capital markets and investor sentiment which he brings to Board deliberations, in addition to financial expertise and construction experience.
External appointments: Chairman of Genus plc and Chairman at externally managed investment trust Personal Assets Trust plc and Pro Chancellor, Cranfield University
Martyn Clark
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Appointed to the Board: June 2024
Experience: Prior to joining the Group, Martyn was at Persimmon plc for nine years holding several senior roles in the South Division including Regional Chairman before his appointment as Group Chief Commercial Officer in 2022. He also spent 28 years at Bloor Homes.
What Martyn brings to the Board: Martyn’s extensive knowledge of the housebuilding industry and strong leadership experience enables him to lead the Group in its next phase of growth.
External appointments: None.
Bill Floydd
Group Finance Director Appointed to the Board: November 2023
Experience: Bill joined the Group from a consumer-focused listed background having been Chief Financial Officer at Watches of Switzerland Group plc and Rank Group plc. Prior to this, he was the Chief Financial Officer responsible for the UK & Ireland business of Experian plc and held a number of senior finance roles at Logica plc. Bill is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Price Waterhouse.
What Bill brings to the Board: Bill brings a wealth of senior financial and commercial expertise having previously served as Chief Financial Officer across a range of sectors. He has extensive experience within the public listed environment and strong leadership qualities essential to delivering growth.
External appointments: None.
Octavia Morley
Senior Independent Director Appointed to the Board: May 2017
Experience: After working in management roles at companies including Asda Stores Ltd, Laura Ashley plc and Woolworths plc, Octavia was Chief Executive then Chair at LighterLife UK Ltd, Managing Director at Crew Clothing Co. and Chief Executive at OKA Direct Ltd. Octavia also served as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at John Menzies plc and Card Factory plc.
What Octavia brings to the Board: Octavia has a variety of experience in senior operational and non-executive roles in retail and multi-site companies, both privately owned and publicly listed. She brings customer experience insight to the Board, gleaned through her previous retail and consumer roles.
External appointments: Chair of Banner Ltd, Senior Independent Director of Marston’s plc and Senior Independent Director of Currys plc.
David Arnold
Non-Executive Director Appointed to the Board: September 2021
Experience: David is Chief Financial Officer of Grafton Group plc, having joined Grafton in September 2013. He was previously Group Finance Director of Enterprise plc, the UK maintenance and support services business, from 2010 to 2013 and Group Finance Director of Redrow plc, from 2003 to 2010. David has previously held senior finance positions with Six Continents plc and Tarmac plc.
What David brings to the Board: David is an established plc Board director, who brings extensive finance, property and commercial experience to the Group.
External appointments: Chief Financial Officer of Grafton Group plc
Louise Hardy
Non-Executive Director Appointed to the Board: January 2018
Experience: Louise was European Project Excellence Director at Aecom and Infrastructure Director for CLM, which was the consortium partner for the London 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority. Louise has been a Non-Executive Director at Genuit Group plc and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation. Louise is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Chartered Management Institute.
What Louise brings to the Board: Louise has a wealth of relevant experience in the delivery of complex infrastructure projects and experience as a non-executive director of other publicly listed companies. Louise is the Non-Executive Director responsible for employee engagement.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of Balfour Beatty plc and Travis Perkins plc.
Dr Maggie Semple OBE
Non-Executive Director Appointed to the Board: January 2024
Experience: Formerly an academic, Maggie began advising governments on education in 1990s. She went on to hold several Non- Executive Director positions in different organisations such as Her Majesty’s Court Service, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the Ministry of Justice (Chair of Audit, Risk & Compliance) and McDonald’s Restaurants. Currently, Maggie is a Non- Executive Director at Phoenix Holdings plc and Jamaica National Bank UK Ltd. She is also the owner of three business – The Experience Corps Limited, a global niche consultancy firm, Maggie Semple Limited, a luxury bespoke womens-wear brand and is the co-founder of I-Cubed Group Limited. Maggie is an author and she writes on inclusion matters.
What Maggie brings to the Board: Maggie has a wealth of experience in executive and nonexecutive roles across a number of different sectors and offers great insight to the Board.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of Phoenix Group Holdings plc and Jamaica National Bank UK Limited, Chief Executive of The Experience Corps Limited, Owner of Maggie Semple Limited, Co-Founder of I-Cubed Group Limited and Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple.
Martyn Clark
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Appointed to the Board: June 2024
Experience: Prior to joining the Group, Martyn was at Persimmon plc for nine years holding several senior roles in the South Division including Regional Chairman before his appointment as Group Chief Commercial Officer in 2022. He also spent 28 years at Bloor Homes.
What Martyn brings to the Board: Martyn’s extensive knowledge of the housebuilding industry and strong leadership experience enables him to lead the Group in its next phase of growth.
External appointments: None.
Bill Floydd
Group Finance Director Joined ELT: November 2023
Experience: Bill joined the Group from a consumer-focused listed background having been Chief Financial Officer at Watches of Switzerland Group plc and Rank Group plc. Prior to this, he was the Chief Financial Officer responsible for the UK & Ireland business of Experian plc and held a number of senior finance roles at Logica plc. Bill is a chartered accountant, having qualified with Price Waterhouse.
What Bill brings to the Executive Leadership Team: Bill brings a wealth of senior financial and commercial expertise having previously served as Chief Financial Officer across a range of sectors. He has extensive experience within the public listed environment and strong leadership qualities essential to delivering growth.
External appointments: None.
Jane Cookson
Group HR Director Joined ELT: January 2021
Experience: Jane joined Crest Nicholson in June 2002 as an HR Manager and became HR Director in January 2013. Jane has a deep understanding of the industry, the Group and its people. Jane has responsibility for all areas of HR including diversity and inclusion, talent and performance management.
Jane is MCIPD qualified and has been in the housebuilding industry for over 20 years.
Kieran Daya
Chief Operating Officer Joined ELT: January 2021
Experience: Kieran joined Crest Nicholson in January 2020 as Managing Director of the Partnerships and Strategic Land Division and joined the ELT shortly thereafter.
In January 2024 Kieran was appointed Chief Operating Officer. He is a qualified solicitor who has worked with some of the country’s largest developers. Kieran has experience in significant land acquisitions, working on joint ventures and partnership deals having taken a lead on some of the larger transactions in the housebuilding industry within recent years.
David Marchant
Group Operations Director Joined ELT: March 2019
Experience: David has over 36 years’ construction and housebuilding industry experience in design and leadership roles. He was previously a Group Director of Bellway plc where he was responsible for group design, technical, R&D, procurement, commercial and quality strategies. Prior to that David spent 25 years in engineering design practice as a structural engineer and at the National House Building Council (NHBC). At the NHBC he was a Director of their Approved Inspector business.
David is a structural engineer and chartered builder.
Heather O'Sullivan
Group General Counsel Joined ELT: September 2023
Experience: Heather joined Crest Nicholson in November 2019 as Company Solicitor leading to her appointment as Group General Counsel in September 2023. Heather has significant experience in the housebuilding sector having specialised in the field since qualification in 1998. She previously worked both inhouse for Linden Homes and Galliford Try Partnerships and, prior to that, for leading UK housebuilder clients in private practice.
Penny Thomas
Group Company Secretary Joined ELT: January 2024
Experience: Penny joined Crest Nicholson in September 2023 and is a chartered company secretary and governance professional. She has significant experience as a company secretary in FTSE250 companies, including the real estate sector. Penny spent 14 years at Shaftesbury plc, and more recently at SEGRO plc, Moonpig Group plc and Close Brothers Group plc.