Persimmon appoints Roger Devlin as chairman

Devlin, who is chairman of pub operator and brewer Marston's, chairman designate of William Hill and senior independent director of the Football Association, will step down from the last two roles in May.

Nigel Mills, senior independent director and acting chairman of Persimmon, said: "Following a very thorough process, the board has agreed that Roger is the right candidate to chair Persimmon. I am sure that his wide business experience and his personal qualities will enable him to make a significant contribution to the future of the group."

The company announced back in December that chairman Nicholas Wrigley and Jonathan Davie, chairman of the remuneration committee, had resigned amid anger over their failure to cap directors' earnings under a long-term incentive plan agreed in 2012.

Devlin said on Thursday: "Persimmon has delivered excellent financial performance as well as materially increasing output in recent years. The housebuilding industry offers good growth prospects, and I look forward to working with Jeff Fairburn, his executive team and the board in providing a broad range of quality homes to our valued customers while continuing the group's track record of superior returns to shareholders."