Taylor Wimpey is keeping new finance director Chris Rickard firmly under wraps at the moment. It's probably a wise move; he has better things to do than meet the City or talk to the press.
Like steer the housebuilder towards the safe haven of a refinancing deal.
He comes with a healthy PLC background and according to those in the know has a decent grasp of the banking and capital markets. His appointment could be seen as a bit of a coup in that respect. So far, so good.
On the downside, there is a whiff of uncertainty about how he will cope with the intense spotlight of being part of Taylor Wimpey. Analysts who have known him in the past say he can be "a bit defensive and a bit quiet".
Others have raised eyebrows over a CV that includes five companies in seven years.
Whatever the reality, he'll presumably come out of his shell pretty quickly if he can help TW get its financing on a steady footing.
Those close to events reckon it is a matter of "when" not "if".
No comments yet