Housebuilder Barratt has announced that Clive Fenton, a company director, has resigned with immediate effect.

In a statement the company said Clive Fenton, Group Board Executive Director, South, had resigned as a director of the company”with immediate effect, to pursue other interests”.

The firm said Steven Boyes, Group Board Executive Director, North, would, with immediate effect, take up a new role as chief operating officer responsible for house building operations.

Mark Clare, Barratt chief executive said: “Steven is one of the most respected operators in the industry and has a wealth of housebuilding experience, having joined the group in 1978.

“The revised operating structure will drive further standardisation, cost efficiency and quality improvement across the Group and underpin the delivery of improved profitability and reduced net debt.”

Fenton joined the Group in 1983, becoming managing director of Barratt West London in 1996.

The firm said it would report its next trading update on 11 July.