Iain Ferguson CBE
ChairmanAppointed: 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 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, Genus plc and externally managed investment trust Personal Assets Trust plc, Pro Chancellor, Cranfield University, Non-Executive Director, Copenhagen Topco Ltd
Peter Truscott
Chief Executive Appointed: September 2019
Experience: Peter was formerly Chief Executive of Galliford Try plc. Peter also worked at Taylor Wimpey plc for 30 years where he held various positions including divisional Chairman. He was also a member of its Group Management Team. Previously, he worked for CALA Homes.
What Peter brings to the Board: Peter has extensive experience in the housebuilding industry across a range of models and tenures. He brings valuable operational and public company experience to lead the Group and is highly experienced at delivering a broad range of housing needs to stakeholders.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director, Anchor Housing Group.
Duncan Cooper
Group Finance Director Appointed: June 2019
Experience: Duncan has a breadth of financial experience across a range of industries. He formerly worked at J. Sainsbury plc where he held multiple roles since 2010, culminating in Director of Group Finance. Prior to that he held finance roles at Sky plc, GlaxoSmithKline plc and Deloitte LLP. Duncan is a chartered accountant.
What Duncan brings to the Board: Duncan provides financial reporting and investor engagement experience which prove valuable to the Board and the Group when communicating strategy and financial targets.
External appointments: None.
Octavia Morley
Senior Independent Director: Appointed: 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.
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 various retail and consumer roles.
External appointments: Chair of Banner Ltd, Senior Independent Director of the Card Factory plc and Marston’s plc and Non-Executive Director of Ascensos Ltd.
Lucinda Bell
Non-Executive Director: Appointed: May 2018
Experience: Lucinda was Chief Financial Officer at The British Land Company plc, one of Europe’s largest real estate investment trusts, from May 2011 to January 2018. She has held a range of finance roles in the real estate industry. At British Land, Lucinda played a leading role in its sustainability initiatives. Lucinda currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committee at Man Group plc and Audit Committee at Derwent London plc. She is a chartered accountant.
What Lucinda brings to the Board: Lucinda’s background in capital markets, investor engagement, tax and the financing of corporate transactions provides valuable insight to the Group.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of Derwent London plc and Man Group plc.
Louise Hardy
Non-Executive Director: Appointed: 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 the Defence Infrastructure Organisation for the Ministry of Defence. Louise is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Chartered Management Institute.
What Louise brings to the Board: Louise’s engineering expertise across large and complex projects has been particularly insightful in the standardisation of technical processes across the Group. Louise is the Non-Executive Director responsible for employee engagement.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director of Severfield plc, Balfour Beatty plc and Travis Perkins plc.
David Arnold
Non-executive Director: Appointed: 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 financial 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
Peter Truscott
Chief Executive Appointed: September 2019
Experience: Peter was formerly Chief Executive of Galliford Try plc. Peter also worked at Taylor Wimpey plc for 30 years where he held various positions including divisional Chairman. He was also a member of its Group Management Team. Previously, he worked for CALA Homes.
What Peter brings to the Executive Leadership Team: Peter has extensive experience in the housebuilding industry across a range of models and tenures. He brings valuable operational and public company experience to lead the Group and is highly experienced at delivering a broad range of housing needs to stakeholders.
External appointments: Non-Executive Director, Anchor Housing Group.
Duncan Cooper
Group Finance Director Appointed: June 2019
Experience: Duncan has a breadth of financial experience across a range of industries. He formerly worked at J. Sainsbury plc where he held multiple roles since 2010, culminating in Director of Group Finance. Prior to that he held finance roles at Sky plc, GlaxoSmithKline plc and Deloitte LLP. Duncan is a chartered accountant.
What Duncan brings to the Executive Leadership Team: Duncan provides financial reporting and investor engagement experience which prove valuable to the Board and the Group when communicating strategy and financial targets.
External appointments: None.
David Marchant
Group Operations Director Joined: 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.
Kevin Maguire
General Counsel and Company Secretary Joined: January 2009
Experience: Kevin joined the Group in March 2008 and became Group Company Secretary in January 2009. Since joining Crest Nicholson, he has been involved in a range of significant corporate transactions including the initial public offering of the Group. With a legal background Kevin has a comprehensive understanding of the legal, compliance, governance and risk considerations relevant to the Group, and the regulatory environment in which it operates. His responsibilities include providing Board support and advice on corporate governance and UK listing obligations. Kevin is a fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and previously held roles in retail, pensions and technology.
Jane Cookson
Group HR Director Joined: 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 20 years. She has also worked in HR functions across a range of other industries.
Kieran Daya
Executive Managing Director - Crest Nicholson Partnerships & Strategic Land and South West Joined: January 2021
Experience: Kieran leads our Partnerships and Strategic Land (PSL) division as well as providing oversight to our South West division. Kieran is a qualified solicitor who has worked with some of the country’s largest developers and has a passion for the built environment. Kieran joined Crest Nicholson in January 2020 to set up the PSL division to develop further the multi channel and multi tenure capability which provide additional sales channels. Kieran has experience in significant land acquisitions, having taken a lead on some of the larger transactions in the housebuilding industry within recent years.
David Brown
Executive Managing Director Joined: January 2020
Experience: David joined Crest Nicholson in January 2020 and has been Managing Director, Chiltern since July 2020. In November 2022 David was promoted to Executive Managing Director, transferring his responsibilities to lead the South division while also overseeing the launch of the new Yorkshire division. David has over 20 years’ experience in the housebuilding industry and held operational leadership roles including Land & Planning Director, Technical Director and Managing Director at Taylor Wimpey plc and Berkeley Group Holdings plc prior to joining Crest Nicholson.
Alex Stark
Executive Managing Director Joined: January 2020
Experience: Alex joined Crest Nicholson as Managing Director, Eastern in January 2020. He was promoted to Executive Managing Director in November 2022, remaining responsible for the Eastern division while also overseeing the launch of the new East Anglia division. Alex has worked for some of the largest UK developers including as Managing Director at Redrow plc and Sales Director at Barratt Developments plc, and holds over 15 years’ extensive experience in the industry. Alex has an in-depth knowledge of sales, selling across a range of channels, including registered providers and the private rented sector.