Vistry Group PLC has confirmed that Rob Woodward CBE will assume the role of non-executive chair when the company’s annual general meeting concludes on May 13, 2026. The appointment formalizes a shift in the company’s boardroom leadership that the board said will become effective at the close of that meeting.
Woodward will take over from Greg Fitzgerald, who is set to step down as executive chair at the AGM. Fitzgerald is also retiring from the chief executive role; however, he will continue to serve as CEO for a transitional period of up to 12 months, or until a successor is appointed, the company said.
Since joining Vistry’s board in May 2024, Woodward has served as the non-executive senior independent director and as chair of the nomination committee. The board said that during that tenure he was given an enhanced brief to provide oversight on governance matters and to engage with investors and other stakeholders. He has led the recruitment of new non-executive directors and overseen the CEO succession process to date.
Woodward brings a background of leadership roles in both public and private sectors. He previously served as chief executive officer of STV Group plc for more than ten years, and he currently holds the position of chair at Ebiquity plc.
Following his elevation to chair on May 13, 2026, Woodward will step down from membership of both the audit committee and the remuneration committee, while retaining his position as chair of the nomination committee. The board has indicated that it regards Woodward as independent on appointment as chair for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
In a parallel appointment, the board has named Rowan Baker as senior independent director with effect from the conclusion of the AGM on May 13, 2026. Baker has been a non-executive director since May 2022 and will continue in the role of chair of the audit committee.
The changes set out by Vistry formalize the handover of non-executive leadership while keeping the CEO role occupied by Fitzgerald during an explicit transition period. The board has structured committee memberships so that Woodward will preserve responsibility for nomination processes even as he relinquishes other committee roles after the AGM.