Colin Dearlove, former group finance director at Barratt Developments, has been named as a non-executive director to the board of MJ Gleeson.
Housebuilder firm MJ Gleeson, appointed Dearlove as a non-executive director to replace Eric Stobart, who will retire from the board on January 31, 2008, at the end of his three-year maximum term.

Colin Dearlove, aged 56, was at Barratt Developments, the Newcastle-based national house-builder, from 1981 to 2006, as group chief accountant from 1985 to 1992 and as group finance director from 1992 to 2006.

Dermot Gleeson, chairman, said 'My board colleagues and I are delighted that someone of Colin's standing in the house-building industry is joining our board. His considerable experience at Barratt Developments of implementing strategic change, and knowledge of the UK housing market, particularly in the North of England, where much of Gleeson's regeneration business is located, are also major plusses.'

Eric Stobart has chaired the audit committee since 1999. Following Colin Dearlove's appointment and Eric Stobart's retirement, the Gleeson board of directors will be made up of six members. Two are executive (Paul Wallwork is group chief executive and Chris Holt is group finance director) and four are non-executive (including Dermot Gleeson as chairman, Ross Ancell, Colin Dearlove and Terry Morgan).