Vistry appoints former media company executive as chair

Vistry Group has appointed Rob Woodward as its new chair.

Woodward, who has been a board member at the £4bn-turnover housebuilder since 2024, will step up into the chair role on 13 May.

He will succeed Greg Fitzgerald, who announced earlier this month he is stepping down as both chair and chief executive of Vistry. He will serve as chief executive for a further 12 months or until a successor is appointed.

Woodward was between 2007 and 2018 chief executive of broadcaster and digital media company STV Group. He has extensive experience of both the media industry and the education sector.

He currently chairs advertising consultancy Ebiquity, Two Rivers Media and Norweigan education provider Lumi Grippen. He has also previously chaired the Met Office.

Vistry has also appointed board member Rowan Baker as senior independent director with effect from 13 May. She will remain chair of the audit committee.

Woodward said: “I very much look forward to continuing to work with the Board and the senior management team as we focus on rebuilding value by maximising the strengths and opportunities from the Group’s mixed tenure partnership model.

“With the scale of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 - 2036 and the business’ track record of building one in seven of the country’s affordable homes last year, Vistry has a key role to play in delivering the homes this country needs.”