Crest rejigs board

Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has promoted former Linden Homes executive Tom Nicholson to the board of the company.

Nicholson joined the business in May as chief operating officer, at the same time it was announced that Peter Truscott, chief executive of Galliford Try, which owns Linden, had been poached to run Crest Nicholson.

Nicholson was managing director and then division chairman of the Linden Homes business, working under Truscott. He has also worked at Trafalgar House Group, Berkeley Group and Try Homes, the last of which was ultimately rebranded as Linden.

In a statement, Crest said Nicholson’s appointment gave the firm “breadth of experience in the key operational areas” as it looked to re-position the business.

Crest has had a difficult few years, announcing a series of profit warnings, the most recent at the end of October. The incoming chief executive has announced plans for a cost-cutting drive.