Regeneration agency English Partnerships has recruited three “big hitters” to its board from the financial and development sectors.

Geoff Wright, Hammerson UK Properties director, Richard Harrold, a former chief executive of MEPC, and John Parker, the chairman of the Building Societies Association Council, will join the board for three years.

Wright, recently president of the Chartered Institute of Building and a trustee of the Foundation for Built Environment, will take up the post on 1 July this year after his retirement from Hammerson.

Harrold and Parker took up their posts, which require a commitment of three days a month for an annual salary of £12,000, on 1 January 2006.

Harrold, who recently stepped down as chief executive of commercial property developer MEPC, is a member of the management oversight committee of Deutsche Bank’s Global Real Estate Opportunity Funds and is also a board member of the Lowestoft & Great Yarmouth Regeneration Company.

Parker retired as chief executive of the Stroud & Swindon Building Society on 31 December 2005, and has previously worked for merchant bank Morgan Grenfell and as finance director for Burmah Oil Exploration.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott said: “Their extensive skills and experience in the property sector and the housing industry will prove invaluable to helping the board to contribute to the delivery of the sustainable communities agenda.”

Margaret Ford, English Partnerships chairman, said the three were “big hitters” who would bring “a wealth of commercial experience” to the organisation.