Pease has been chief executive at troubled firm since July

Watkin Jones has confirmed its interim chief executive will take up the position on a permanent basis. 

Alex Pease has held the role since July this year, when former chief Richard Simpson stepped down with the firm issuing a profit warning. 

Alex Pease, Chief Executive Officer, Watkin Jones

New Watkin Jones chief executive Alex Pease

In the months since taking over as interim, Pease has led the sale of three non-core private rented sector assets and taken action to “better align” the group’s cost base, according to the business. 

The troubled student housing and build-to-rent developer released an update last month in which it predicted its underlying profit for the year would “break even”. 

Pease has held a series of positions at the group since joining in 2010, working as group investment director from 2013, becoming chief investment officer in 2021 and joining the board in 2022.

The firm is expected to issue its next set of annual figures in January.