Former Galliard Homes boss named Inland Homes CEO

Developer and regeneration specialist Inland Homes has announced the appointment of former Galliard Homes boss Don O’Sullivan as its chief executive yesterday. 

O’Sullivan takes over from Stephen Wicks, who announced in September his decision to retirie as the AIM-listed developer revealed a projected £27m loss because of construction over-runs and planning delays. 

South of England-based Inland Homes said its new boss had “a strong track record of operational, strategic and commercial success in construction and property development”.

O’Sullivan will lead an ongoing strategic review, which was announced on 6 September, of the £181m turnover developer.  The board is expected to update on the strategic review in the first quarter of next year. 

Simon Bennett, chair of Inland Homes, said: “I have no doubt that Don has the necessary experience, skills and expertise to take the group to the next stage of its development. He is ideally qualified to lead Inland Homes and his construction expertise will prove to be invaluable.”

O’Sullivan added: “I am pleased to be joining Inland Homes as its new CEO at such a strategically important time. I am looking forward to working with the Inland Homes team to return the business to sustainable profitable growth and to optimising the significant future opportunities available to us.”

O’Sullivan was chief executive of Galliard Homes from July 2017 to March 2022. He joined that company in 2001 as a contract manager after being headhunted. 

He studied civil engineering at the University of Cork and after graduating worked for Balfour Beatty in London. The early part of his career was spent working on major contracting projects. 

When he started at Galliard Homes, the firm’s construction division was in its infancy. He built up the company’s construction expertise and capacity, meaning it could take on and deliver large residential development projects in London. 

O’Sullivan was made group managing director of Galliard Homes in 2012 and appointed group chief executive in 2017. During his tenure as chief executive it completed more than 5,000 homes and made aggregate profits of more than £250m. Last year’s accounts for Galliard included an £8.3m “termination payment” to O’Sullivan made upon his departure, which the business said was a “performance related bonus”.