Watkin Jones has announced appointment of a new chair and chief financial officer designate.

The £354m-turnover build to rent and student housing specialist has confirmed that Alan Giddins will be appointed to the board as a non-executive director before taking over as chair in October. Giddins will replace Grenville Turner, who is retiring.

Giddins is currently chair of Hill & Smith, a FTSE 250 company that delivers infrastructure and transport projects. Giddins has a background in investment banking and served as managing partner and global head of private equity 3i Group. He is also on the board of social impact investor Big Society Capital.