Richard Vining (left) takes over as operation director as John Leary moves to the newly-created role of major projects director

He joins from the Metropolitan Housing Trust where he was most recently development director, and take up the role as previous operations director John Leary moves to a newly-created post of major projects director.

Vining’s 34-year career has seen him hold several senior construction and housing roles, including chief executive officer roles at Shepherd Construction and Lorne Stewart.

As a director at Lend Lease before that, he created the company’s £500m turnover housing and accommodation division, led collaborative partnerships with the MOD and spearheaded the development of off-site manufactured homes.

Lovell managing director Jonathan Goring said: “I am extremely pleased to have secured someone of Richard’s high calibre to join our board.

“His range of skills and wealth of construction and housing achievements – including extensive experience in developing off-site construction solutions and in the formation of market-leading partnerships with major public sector clients – make him a fantastic addition to our senior team.”

Former national operations director, Leary will now lead the Lovell’s delivery of large-scale housing projects in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.

He heads up the Lovell team working on a landmark £200m scheme to create 900 homes for returning troops on Salisbury Plain for which Lovell has been appointed preferred bidder.

Leary previously led Lovell’s fast-tracked delivery of 346 homes in just over a year for soldiers and their families at MOD Stafford.