Countryside's Richard Cherry announces retirement

Countryside has announced a number of changes to the group’s senior management, including the retirement later this year of a son of the firm’s late founder, Alan Cherry.

Richard Cherry, chief executive of Countryside’s partnerships division and a son of Alan Cherry who died six years ago, is to retire from the business at the end of its financial year in September.

Cherry (pictured right) will step down from his role as chief executive, partnerships on 2 May 2017 and assume the role of group new business director until he leaves the company at the end of September. He will remain a member of Countryside’s executive committee until then.

Graham Cherry, also Alan Cherry’s son and currently chief executive of Countryside’s housebuilding division, will take the chief executive role in partnerships south from 2 May and will retain his current seat on the executive committee.   

And Philip Lyons, formerly divisional managing director, London and South East with Taylor Wimpey, will head up the group’s housebuilding operation from 2 May, and also sit on the firm’s executive committee.

Thanking Richard Cherry for his “invaluable contribution” to the firm, Countryside’s group chief executive, Ian Sutcliffe said: “Richard has played a pivotal role in building Countryside into the business it is today, in particular helping establish Countryside as the leading urban regeneration partner.”

Speaking about Lyons’ appointment as chief executive, housebuilding, Sutcliffe added: “I am also delighted to welcome Phillip Lyons to the company.

“Securing Phillip’s experience, skills and industry knowledge built over a 30 year career in the sector, positions us well to maintain our strong growth trajectory in housebuilding. I look forward to working with him over the years to come.”