The Board is responsible for setting the Group’s purpose, values, strategy and ensuring it is aligned with the desired culture. Vistry Group PLC operates through its Board with day-to-day operations delegated to the Chief Executive and the Executive Leadership Team.
A schedule of the matters reserved for the Board can be found here.
Greg Fitzgerald
Appointed to the Board: 18 April 2017
Committee memberships: None
Key skills and experience:
Greg was Chief Executive of Galliford Try PLC from 2005 to 2015, having previously been Managing Director of its house building division from 2003. Prior to this he was a founder and later Managing Director of Midas Homes, which was acquired by Galliford Try PLC in 1997. As Chief Executive, he transformed Galliford Try PLC from a building contractor into a well-respected house building and construction business, which included the acquisition of Linden Homes in 2007. Greg was Executive Chairman of Galliford Try PLC during 2015 before becoming non-executive Chairman from January to November 2016. He was Non-Executive Director of the National House Building Council from 2010 until July 2016.
What he brings to the Board:
Leadership and strategic focus in the house building and construction industry, business growth and value creation.
External appointments:
Non-listed: Chair of Ardent Hire Solutions Limited and Baker Estates Limited.
ROB WOODWARD
Appointed to the Board: 16 May 2024
Committee memberships: Chair of the Nomination Committee, and Member of the Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee
Key skills and experience:
Rob has held leadership positions across both the public and private sectors. He has been Chair of the Met Office since 2018, a role he will relinquish later this year after two terms. His experience includes over 10 years as Chief Executive Officer of STV Group plc leading its successful transformation into a pre-eminent digital media group. He had previously been Commercial Director at Channel 4 Television, Managing Director with UBS Corporate Finance and lead partner for Deloitte’s Telecoms, Media & Technology Industry Group in Europe. As Chair he oversaw the sale of technology company Blancco plc last year to US private equity.
What he brings to the Board:
Experienced CEO with executive and operational transformation experience within listed companies. Holds current Chair and Non-Executive Director roles in listed and Government agency organisations.
External appointments:
Listed: Chair of Ebiquity plc and Chair of Lumi Gruppen
Non-listed: Chair of Court at Glasgow Caledonian University
ALICE WOODWARK
Appointed to the Board: 16 May 2024
Committee memberships: Member of the Nomination Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee
Key skills and experience:
Alice has been Managing Director of Mitie Group plc’s Communities division since 2021. She started her career with management consultancy McKinsey, working extensively across the UK and US in the infrastructure, transport, hospitality and retail sectors. Alice joined Compass Group in 2013, serving as Group Head of Strategy and M&A and subsequently in Managing Director positions for Compass UK.
What she brings to the Board:
Extensive experience within management consultancy across the UK and US as well as holding senior executive roles within FTSE companies. Strong focus on delivering strategic and operational change and investment in people driven culture.
External appointments:
None.
ROWAN BAKER
Appointed to the Board: 18 May 2022
Committee memberships: Chair of the Audit Committee, and Member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee
Key skills and experience:
Rowan is a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer in construction and development. She is currently the Group Chief Financial Officer of Laing O'Rourke, and from 2017 to 2020, was the Chief Financial Officer of McCarthy Stone. Prior to joining McCarthy & Stone in 2012, she worked in finance for Barclays Bank plc and professional services for PwC.
Rowan has a masters degree in Law from Cambridge University and is a qualified accountant (FCA) and chartered tax adviser.
What she brings to the Board:
Extensive experience of the construction sector and the challenges it faces to improve productivity, deliver greater certainty for clients and overcome a long-standing skills shortage. Her financial expertise and sector experience will further strengthen the Board as the Company delivers its growth strategy.
External appointments:
Non-Listed: Laing O’Rourke PLC
Chris Browne OBE
Appointed to the Board: 01 September 2014
Committee memberships: Audit Committee, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee
Key skills and experience:
Chris has previously held a number of senior leadership positions within the aviation industry, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of easyJet PLC until June 2019 and also served as a non-executive director from January to September 2016. She was Chief Operating Officer, Aviation, of TUI Travel PLC until September 2015 and was managing director of Thomson Airways from 2007 to May 2014 and managing director First Choice Airways from 2002 to 2007. She has a Doctorate of Science (Honorary) for Leadership in Management and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to aviation.
What she brings to the Board:
Commercial and general management experience in a consumer facing and highly regulated industry, plus leadership and operational skills.
External appointments:
Non listed: Independent board member of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA and Non-Executive Director of Constellium SE (NYSE).
Paul Whetsell
Appointed to the Board: 18 May 2023
Committee memberships: Chair of the Remuneration Committee, and Member of the Nomination Committee and the Audit Committee
Key skills and experience:
Paul is a highly experienced Chief Executive Officer in the hospitality sector and an experienced Non-Executive Director. He is currently CEO of CapStar Hotel Company and has more than 45 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. Paul founded the original CapStar Hotel Company in 1987. In August 1996, the company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:CHO). He was Chairman & CEO of the REIT MeriStar Hospitality Corporation (NYSE:MHX) and the operating company MeriStar Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MMH). He served as Chairman and CEO of Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:IHR) and President & CEO of Loews Hotels & Resorts. From 2007 until 2018 Paul served on the board of NVR, Inc. (NYSE: NVR), one of America’s largest home builders.
Paul currently serves on the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director of Boyd Gaming Corporation Inc. (NYSE:BYD), operator of 28 gaming entertainment properties, and Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), a leading global timeshare company. He is also the Remuneration Committee Chair for Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. He is active with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is a member of its national Board of Trustees.
What he brings to the Board:
Experienced Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair. Strong Board and broad strategic advisory experience having served on numerous Boards including a leading America homebuilder.
External appointments:
Listed: Boyd Gaming Corporation Inc. (NYSE:BYD) and Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV)
Helen Owers
Appointed to the Board: 18 May 2023
Committee memberships: Member of the Nomination Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee
Key skills and experience:
Helen has extensive international operational experience from a successful career culminating in her being President of Global Businesses and Chief Development Officer for Thomson Reuters.
She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Informa plc, the FTSE 100 British publishing, business intelligence and exhibitions group where she is a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees and the board member responsible for employee engagement. Previously, Helen was also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee from 2012 to 2020 of PZ Cussons plc, the FTSE 250 manufacturer of personal healthcare products and consumer goods. Helen is an independent Governor of Falmouth University and a Trustee of Eden Project.
What she brings to the Board:
Significant operational expertise and UK listed experience including remuneration.
External appointments:
Listed: Non-Executive Director of Informa plc.
Usman Nabi
Appointed to the Board: 12 January 2024
Committee memberships: None
Key skills and experience
Usman is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Browning West. Prior to founding Browning West, he was Senior Partner at H Partners Management, LLC, a New York-based investment management firm. Usman also held previous roles as an Analyst at Perry Capital LLC and as a Private Equity Associate at The Carlyle Group. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Lazard Frères in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions group.
Previously, Usman served on the Board of Directors of Domino’s Pizza Group plc as a Non-Executive Director and a member of the Nomination Committee, where he also co-led the search processes for both the Chairman and CEO positions. Usman also served on the Board of Directors of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, where he was Chairman of the Nominating & Governance Committee, a member of the Compensation Committee, and where he also co-led two CEO search processes. He also served as Six Flags’ Executive Chairman during its emergence from bankruptcy in 2010. Additionally, Usman served on the Board of Directors of Tempur Sealy International Inc., where he was Chairman of the CEO Search Committee, a member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, and a member of the Compensation Committee.
Usman earned his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
What he brings to the Board:
Experienced Non-Executive Director. Strong Board and broad strategic advisory experience having served on numerous Boards.
External appointments:
Non-Listed: Browning West LP
Earl Sibley
Appointed to the Board: 16 April 2015
Committee memberships: None
Key skills and experience:
Earl was previously Vistry Group CFO and became COO on 11 November 2022. Earl is a Chartered Accountant and re-joined the Company as Group Finance Director in April 2015 having previously worked as Group Financial Controller from 2006 to 2008. He served as Interim Chief Executive from January to April 2017. Earl held a number of senior finance and operational positions with Barratt Developments PLC from 2008 to 2015, including Regional Finance Director and previously worked for Ernst & Young.
What he brings to the Board:
Leadership, strategic focus, financial and accounting expertise.
External appointments:
None
Tim Lawlor
Appointed to the Board: 11 November 2022
Committee memberships: None
Key skills and experience:
Tim joined the Group as part of the acquisition of Countryside Partnerships plc in 2022 where he served as CFO. He has strong financial and commercial expertise having served for seven years as CFO of Wincanton Plc, the largest British third party logistics company, before joining Countryside. Prior to Wincanton Plc, Tim held a number of senior group, divisional and international finance roles at large listed companies, including Serco and Sea Containers. Tim qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte where he worked for seven years based in the UK and North America.
His role is responsible for setting the financial strategy and policy of the Group and covers all areas of finance, including tax and treasury. He holds an MA in Economics from Cambridge University.
What he brings to the Board:
Leadership, strategic focus, financial and accounting expertise.
External appointments:
None