Barratt Developments has announced Neil Cooper will join the board as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

He is currently Group Finance Director (GFD) of William Hill and was GFD of Bovis Homes from 2007 until 2010.

Beforehand he worked with Whitebread in finance roles across a range of businesses, initially qualifying as a Management Accountant with Reckitt & Colman before working as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers' management consultancy practice.


Mr Cooper is also a non-executive director of Pennon Group, the parent company of South West Water and Viridor.

He will join Barratt when he has fulfilled his contractual obligations to his existing employer.

John Allan, Chairman of Barratt, said: "I am delighted that we are appointing someone of Neil’s outstanding calibre and experience to the board as CFO in succession to David who steps up to the role of CEO on 1 July 2015."

Chief Executive (Designate) David Thomas said: "Neil has a strong CFO track record as well as a good knowledge of the house building sector.

"He has been a key part of shaping the direction of Bovis Homes and William Hill and is an exceptional appointment for Barratt; I am confident that he will add real value to our business."

(LM)