We take our weekly look at appointments and promotions across the housebuilding industry and its supply chain.
Trudy Betts, The Hill Group
The Hill Group has appointed Trudy Betts to the newly created senior leadership role of digital transformation project director.
Betts will lead the business’s digital transformation programme, helping to streamline core systems, strengthen data governance, and ensure the business has the operational infrastructure required to support its target of doubling in size by 2030.
She brings extensive experience in business transformation, enterprise systems, and strategic change management. Betts spent 27 years in the civil service, working across HMRC, the Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information, where she held roles in policy, research and communications. She has also held senior IT roles at Mace and McLaren Construction.
Andy Hill OBE, founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “What sets Trudy apart is her ability to see the whole picture, understanding how every part of the business connects, and to translate that into practical solutions that improve how we work, how we make decisions and ultimately how we grow.”
Three appointments, Keepmoat
Keepmoat has appointed three new senior hires in a move to strengthen its Northampton-based South Midlands region.
Ben Briggs (pictured right) joins the team as director of construction. He brings with him more than 25 years of experience across the housebuilding industry having held a series of senior roles across a variety of construction businesses, including at Taylor Wimpey and Tilia Homes.
Sally Clifford (pictured centre), a commercial expert with 20 years of housebuilding experience joins the team from Redrow Homes as commercial director to spearhead commercial strategy, financial performance and cost management across the region.
Byran O’Mahoney (pictured left) is now director of land & partnerships with more than 26 years of experience, previously holding roles at Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes across land buying, area management and most recently as land director.
Regional MD Victor Idowu at Keepmoat South Midlands, said: “I look forward to working alongside the three of them and drawing on their experience as we look to accelerate the growth and investment across the region.”
Simon Fallon, Persimmon Homes
Simon Fallon has been promoted to technical director designate at Persimmon Homes West Scotland.
A Barrhead engineer with more than 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, Fallon will now lead a 13-strong technical team based at the company’s Garthamlock headquarters.
He began his career in 2000 and joined Persimmon Homes in 2015 from a consultancy as a design engineer. He later progressed through the business, becoming senior engineer, engineering manager and then technical manager before taking up his latest role.
Fallon said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role. Over the past decade with Persimmon I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great team and contribute to a number of successful developments across the region.
Chris Logan, managing director of Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said: “Simon has made a significant contribution to the business since joining Persimmon and this promotion is thoroughly deserved.”
Lee McLean, Placefirst
Placefirst has appointed Lee McLean as chief executive officer, effective from 3 August 2026, succeeding David Mawson, who transitioned to executive chair in February 2026 as part of his planned retirement.
McLean joins from global platform Campus Living Villages, where he served as UK CEO for nearly eight years, overseeing a portfolio of more than 10,300 student beds. He brings more than 25 years’ experience scaling operational real estate businesses across the UK and international markets.
McLean said: “Placefirst has built a clear identity in single-family rental, with a portfolio and delivery model that stands out in the UK market. The opportunity now is to scale that platform further, expanding partnerships and continuing to grow in undersupplied regions. I’m looking forward to building on its strong foundations and working with the team.”
Mawson added: “It has been a privilege to lead Placefirst over the past few years and to see the platform grow to where it is today.”
Paul Thornton, Gleeson Homes
Gleeson Homes has announced the appointment of Paul Thornton as land director for its Yorkshire region, based in Leeds and covering South, West and East Yorkshire.
Thornton brings over 15 years of experience in the housebuilding industry to the role. He began his career with Persimmon West Yorkshire, before progressing to Bellway Yorkshire and, most recently, serving as land director at Crest Nicholson Yorkshire.
Jim Brooks, regional managing director at Gleeson Homes, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Paul to the Gleeson Homes team. His wealth of experience, particularly across Yorkshire, aligns perfectly with our plans to strengthen our regional land pipeline.”
Thornton added: “I’m excited to join Gleeson Homes, a company with a strong track record of delivering high-quality homes at an affordable price point. With an experienced team already in place, I look forward to progressing the region’s land strategy and contributing to the continued growth of the business across Yorkshire.”
Chris Marchant, Hampshire Trust Bank
Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has appointed Chris Marchant as lending director in its Development Finance team, supporting brokers and SME developers across London and the South East.
Reporting to Rob Syrett, head of originations, Development Finance, Marchant brings more than two decades of experience across real estate finance, debt structuring and development funding. He joins from Centrus, having previously held senior roles at DC Advisory and CBRE, where he advised on debt and structured finance transactions across the UK and Europe. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 12 years at NatWest within its real estate finance team.
Marchant said: “HTB has built a strong reputation for combining experienced decision-making with a relationship-led way of working. I’m looking forward to working closely with the team, our broker partners and developers, building on the strong relationships already established across the region and delivering tailored solutions that give clients the confidence to move projects forward.”
Braden Stonehouse, Richborough
Richborough has strengthened its Midlands team with the appointment of Braden Stonehouse as land and planning manager.
Braden joins Richborough with five years’ experience at McLoughlin Planning, where he began his career as a graduate planner following completion of his Geography degree at University of Gloucestershire. During his time there, he worked across a range of strategic residential developments and planning projects, building significant experience in the promotion of large-scale housing sites.
He has also secured an MSc in City, Community and Regional Planning from the University of the West of England and is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Stonehouse said: “Richborough has its finger on the pulse of the industry and an excellent reputation for promoting sustainable strategic developments that work for both Local Plans and local communities. I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued growth of the Midlands team and to learning and developing with the team here.”
Three appointments, Vandersanden
Brick manufacturer Vandersanden has announced the appointment of Camille Bailey, Alex Hernandez and Kim Martin to its growing UK team.
Camille Bailey joins as specification manager, supporting architects and specifiers to help translate their vision into practical brick specification. She has over a decade of experience in the construction industry, working alongside architects, designers and contractors, working across building product distribution, bespoke joinery coordination, and luxury showroom environments.
Kim Martin has also been appointed specification manager, bringing analytical and communication skills acquired over six years of experience across specification and technical services within the building materials sector.
Alex Hernandez brings a background in sales and construction to his role as area sales manager for the Essex and Kent region.
Darren White, UK sales director at Vandersanden, commented: “Strengthening our team is a vital part of our growth strategy, and their appointments bring valuable skills and expertise that will help us continue to support our customers, develop new opportunities, and drive the business forward in the UK market.”
James Lund-Lack, Donaldson Timber Systems
Donaldson Timber Systems has appointed James Lund-Lack as regional and quality manager.
Lund-Lack started his career as a professional sailor, successfully completing multiple transatlantic crossings and gaining Yachtmaster Offshore accreditation. After a decade as a sailor, he gained a Distinction in Mechanical Engineering and in 2012 he secured his first role in the construction industry, taking operational responsibility for a nationwide manufacturer of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs).
He brings over 15 years of senior management experience to his role, most recently as MD of iHus Annexe. He is current chair of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for Bristol and South West.
Lund-Lack commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the Donaldson Timber Systems team at a time when quality standards in construction have never been more important. I look forward to working closely with our site teams, contractors, and stakeholders to drive continuous improvement across the business.”
Michelle Lane, Fulcrum Group
Fulcrum Group has promoted Michelle Lane to the newly created role of head of pre-construction delivery, based between the group’s Sheffield and Bury St Edmunds offices.
Lane, who joined the business more than four years ago, will oversee and lead the integration of several key pre-construction functions across the group. Previously, she held senior roles within traffic management and local authority environments and currently serves as first chair of Pillar 4 Technology, Data & Innovation for HAUC (UK) Vision 2030, the UK’s street works advisory body focused on improving collaboration and standards across the utility and highways sectors.
Lane said: “The new pre-construction structure will strengthen communication internally, improve efficiency and ultimately help us deliver projects more successfully for our customers.”
Tom Overfield, MD of the Operating Divisions, added: “Michelle has already played a significant role in driving improvements across the business and she is exceptionally well placed to lead this next phase of development.”
