Housebuilder Vistry Group has announced that its chief executive and chair Greg Fitzgerald is set to retire after nine years in the role.
Fitzgerald was appointed by Vistry in 2017. His tenure as chair will conclude on 13 May, while his role as chief executive will continue for up to 12 months or until a successor is appointed.
The announcement comes alongside the group’s full-year results, which show a slight dip in revenue to £4.155bn, with pre-tax profits rising 2% to £268.8m.
Fitzgerald’s career dates back around 45 years and includes a stint as Galliford Try’s chief executive between 2005 and 2015. He was previously managing director of its housebuilding division.
Prior to this, he was a founder and later managing director of Midas Homes, which was acquired by Galliford Try in 1997.
In 2024, he ranked fourth in Property Week’s top 40 highest-earning chief executives, before dropping off the list last year, with his salary reducing from £3.17m to £875,000 following a damaging profit miscalculation in 2024.
“It has been a privilege to work with such dedicated colleagues to transform the business to become the leading provider of affordable, mixed-tenure housing in the country,” he said.
“It is an exciting time for Vistry as it focuses on addressing the chronic affordable housing shortage. After over 45 years in the sector, it is the right time for me to retire, and I am confident that Vistry will go from strength to strength well into the future.”
Rob Woodward, senior independent and non-executive director of Vistry, added: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Greg for his outstanding contribution to Vistry since 2017 and to the sector over his illustrious career.
“During his time with Vistry, he has played a pivotal role in its strategic transformation by leading the turnaround of Bovis; the acquisition of Linden Homes and the Galliford Try partnerships business to create Vistry; the acquisition of Countryside; and the strategic step to focus on partnerships.
“His legacy and impact across the UK housing sector cannot be understated. We look forward to continuing to work with him until his departure, driving the success of the business, and we wish him well in his forthcoming retirement.”
Oli Creasey, head of property research at Quilter, said Fitzgerald has been “instrumental in shoring up the company in the wake of the wave of profit warnings in late 2024, expanding his role to include the chair of the board shortly after”. He added: “While the company is still a long way from the highs of 2024, share price performance has been steady since the start of 2025, and his successors will inherit a company with increasingly firm foundations.”
Vistry said further updates would be given in due course, including the date on which Fitzgerald would step down from the board. Following his retirement, he will act as a special adviser for 12 months.
News of Fitzgerald’s departure came on the same day that Barratt Redrow’s David Thomas also announced his retirement, with Dean Banks appointed as the housebuilder’s next chief executive.
