We take our weekly look at appointments and promotions across the housebuilding industry and its supply chain.
Alie Horton, Ascend
Ascend has further strengthened its team with the recruitment of Alie Horton as its new head of asset management, working closely with the company’s institutional investor clients.
She joins Ascend with more than 20 years’ experience of residential property, with specific expertise in managing operational performance, and formerly held senior positions at firms including CBRE and JLL. Her arrival follows the recent recruitment of Clair Barry as head of mobilisation.
Adam Stephenson, operations director at Ascend, said: “We have made considerable investments not only in technology, but also in recruiting people that have an unrivalled understanding of just what is required to succeed with such assets. Alie’s experience and expertise will further strengthen our best-in-class team, and help us deliver even better outcomes across these portfolios.”
Two appointments, Cruden Homes
Cruden Homeshas appointed two senior hires within its design and technical team – Nicola McGuiness (pictured right) as head of technical and Susan Wilson (pictured left) as senior architectural co-ordinator.
Bringing over two decades of experience to her new role from private consultancy to house building, McGuiness has held senior titles at BDP and Mactaggart & Mickel. Examples of projects she has worked on include Inverness College, Union Square Aberdeen and housing developments at Sandringham Gate in Newton Mearns, Buchanan Views in Killearn and Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
Wilson has amassed experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland with private consultancies and subsequently with housebuilders including Stewart Milne, Mactaggart & Mickel and Cala Homes. She further developed her skills while working freelance as a consultant for PLCs and small independent developers.
Of her appointment, Nicola McGuiness said: “It’s fantastic to be part of such a passionate and skilled team where I also have the autonomy to influence and shape the strategic direction when it comes to my team and product design.”
Darren Thomson, Springfield Properties
Springfield Properties, has announced the appointment of a new construction director in the North of Scotland, with Darren Thomson promoted from his former role as divisional development director.
From Elgin with a background in civil engineering, Thomson first started his career with Springfield as assistant project manager in 2016.
This promotion comes following the retirement of Eck Patterson who, as one of the company’s first employees, had been at Springfield for nearly 30 years.
Darren Thomson said: “Like so many at Springfield, my predecessor included, I’ve worked with Springfield for a number of years and benefitted from development opportunities along the way to prepare me for progression.”
Springfield managing director Dave Main commented: “Having worked closely with Darren over the past eight years I am proud of his promotion to construction director and look forward to seeing him thrive in this new role.”
James Saunders, Wates Group
James Saunders has been appointed chief people officer for Wates Group from 6 May 2025, following Paul Rowan’s decision to retire.
He joins Wates from Highbourne Group, a major plumbing, heating and renewable energy company, where he held the role of chief people & culture officer. His career also includes head of HR roles at Vodafone and Nationwide.
Wates’ chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird said: “James is an energetic and agile leader with a passion for creating open, collaborative, purpose-driven cultures where people care deeply about delivering for customers and creating value for society. These attributes are all highly prized at Wates Group, and we look forward to welcoming him.”
Paul Rowan has been HR director for Wates Group since August 2014, serving on the executive committee. He will retire from the business at the end of 2025.
Ian McGarvey, AS Homes
AS Homes has continued to strengthen its senior team through the internal promotion of Ian McGarvey to construction manager.
The promotion follows McGarvey’s seven-year tenure with the company, joining in 2018 as a site manager, rising through the ranks to contracts manager and now construction manager. Originally a qualified joiner, he moved into construction management in 2006, since having positions at Redrow, Springfield, Bellway and, immediately prior to joining AS Homes, Barratt.
Commenting on his promotion, McGarvey said: “What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to oversee a project from start to finish, providing input at every stage and seeing the full AS and Briar team work together to deliver much-needed, high-quality housing.”
Paul Kelly, MD at AS Homes (Scotland) Ltd and Briar Homes Ltd, commented: “We’ve been continually impressed by Ian’s performance throughout his tenure with us, demonstrating a strong commitment to delivering high standards of production and a genuine passion for construction.”
Multiple appointments, Knight Frank
Knight Frank has announced the establishment of a new UK board, and appointed Julia Hayhoe (pictured) non-executive adviser to the UK Board and its sole external representative.
The UK board will be led by UK managing partner and chair, Stephen Clifton, and comprises 13 senior members from across Knight Frank’s commercial, residential and central business functions, alongside regular rotating contributors.
Julia Hayhoe brings 25 years of international board experience to her board role. Her independent chair and board portfolio currently includes Lockton Insurance; The Corporate Governance Institute; The Centre for Professional Services Research and Data Insight and Duke Corporate Education. Prior to this she served as NED with Specialist Risk Group; chief strategy officer at global law firm Baker McKenzie and as a partner in a strategy consulting boutique.
Hayhoe commented: “It’s a great privilege to be joining Knight Frank’s UK Board and to contribute to the future success of such a widely respected business.”
Multiple appointments, Barratt and David Wilson Homes
Barratt and David Wilson Homes North East has welcomed five new apprentices, as it continues to invest in future talent through its trade and degree apprenticeship programmes.
Among the new starters are two degree apprentices, 18-year-old Luke Doward and 19-year-old Grace Snowdon, who are specialising in technical design and quantity surveying respectively. Alongside them, Thomas Pringle, Samuel Reid and Kay Watts have joined the housebuilder’s Trade Apprenticeship Programme, Pringle and Reid as joiners and Watts in bricklaying.
The trade apprenticeships span 18 months, combining on-site work and college training, while the degree apprenticeships include part-time study for a BSc (Hons) alongside practical experience.
Carl Sobolewski, managing director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North East, said: “We’re so pleased to be welcoming five very deserving apprentices to the North East division. As someone who joined Barratt via a similar scheme myself, I have experienced first-hand the career opportunities and benefits that it can offer.”
Two appointments, Savills
Savills Edinburgh residential sales has confirmed significant leadership appointments, promoting Ben Fox to the newly created role of director of new business and appointing John Forsyth as head of Edinburgh residential sales.
Fox, who joined Savills 19 years ago, was promoted to director in 2015 before taking the helm of the Edinburgh residential department in 2017.
He said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Edinburgh Residential team over the past few years, seeing it grow and thrive in a challenging market.
Forsyth joined Savills in 2017 after building a successful career in the local property sector and commented: “I’m really honoured to step into this role. Ben has built a fantastic team – knowledgeable, hardworking, and committed to delivering the best results for our clients. I look forward to leading the department as we continue to grow and build on our success in the Edinburgh market.”
Richard Johnson, Packaged Living
Packaged Living has appointed Richard Johnson as an independent board advisor.
Johnson brings with him nearly 40 years’ real estate experience raising global capital across numerous jurisdictions. Amongst the numerous listed board positions he has held, both in an executive and non-executive capacity, were those at Shangri La Malaysia, CDL HREIT and Raimon Land.
Of his new role, Johnson commented: “It is a privilege to be asked to help both in further cementing Packaged Living’s position as the leading vertically integrated living specialist in the UK and in supporting the group in expanding the platform into European markets.
Ed Ellerington, the company’s CEO, said of Richard Johnson’s expertise: “This knowledge and track record will be invaluable to the Packaged Living team as we augment our position as the UK’s leading sustainable rental living specialist, whilst also expanding our platform into other European living markets in the coming years.”
