Managing director of London office resigns after completing a business review to simplify the group.
Paddy Sweetnam has resigned as managing director of the London division of Berkeley Homes after completing a review of the division that found that his role should be abolished.

Tony Pidgley, managing director of the Berkeley Group, said: "It is very simple. Paddy did the review to simplify the business – we are not doing small, executive homes any more but have moved into large-scale regeneration."

It had been agreed that once Sweetnam implemented the findings of his three-year review, he would see if there was something else he could do within the group. Pidgley said: "There is nothing really. We didn't really want to see him go."

Rob Perrins, group finance director, said: "Effectively he was always working himself out of a job. He hasn't decided where he's going next; I don't think the plan for him is to go to another developer, but maybe go back into the public sector."

Before joining Berkeley in 1991 Sweetnam worked in planning. He was appointed managing director of Berkeley Homes (London) in November 2001 after working in the eastern and southern divisions as managing director and executive chairman.

The departure of Sweetnam, who will leave at the end of October, will not alter the structure of Berkeley.

Effectively he was always working himself out of a job

Rob Perrins, group finance director

His resignation comes four months after that of Tim Farrow, a member of the board at the group's St James Homes arm. Farrow left at the end of May.

  • Former Berkeley and Wimpey Homes finance director Peter Darby has joined housebuilder Crest Nicholson. Darby, who will carry out the same work for Crest Nicholson, will replace Clive Littler later this month. Darby first worked for the Crest Nicholson group from 1987 to 1996 in the residential and commercial businesses.