Persimmon plc announces today that by mutual agreement and at the request of the Company, Jeff Fairburn, Group Chief Executive, is to step down. Jeff has been a successful leader of the business since his appointment in 2013, but the Board believes that the distraction around his remuneration from the 2012 LTIP scheme continues to have a negative impact on the reputation of the business and consequently on Jeff's ability to continue in his role.
David Jenkinson, currently Group Managing Director, will be appointed as interim Group Chief Executive and will assume his new role on 31 December 2018 and Jeff will leave the Company on that date. The Board has commenced a formal process to select a permanent successor.
David joined Persimmon in 1997 and was appointed to the Board in December 2013. He was appointed Group Managing Director in January 2016 and, working with Jeff, has played a central role in the development of the business.
Roger Devlin, Persimmon's Chairman, said: “Under Jeff's leadership Persimmon has sold more than 74,000 homes across the UK while more than doubling in size, increasing its market capitalisation from £3.4 bn to £7.5 bn, returning over £2.2bn to shareholders and producing industry leading margins and returns on capital. However, given the continuing distraction around the scale of his remuneration resulting from the 2012 LTIP, the Board believes that it is now necessary for there to be to be a change of leadership. On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Jeff for his significant contribution to the business over a 29 year period.
“David is an experienced operator in the housebuilding sector and has made a significant contribution to Persimmon in a number of senior roles, particularly in land purchasing. I am grateful that he has agreed to take on the role of interim CEO.”
Jeff Fairburn said: “It has been an honour to lead Persimmon through an exciting period of development. I had hoped that revealing my plans to create a charitable trust and to waive a proportion of the award would enable the Company to put the issue of the 2012 LTIP behind it. However, this has not been the case and so it is clearly now in the best interests of Persimmon that I should step down. I wish the Company the very best for the future.”
Remuneration Arrangements
On 6 November 2018, Jeff and the Company agreed to the terms of a Settlement Agreement whereby his employment will end on 31 December 2018.
The arrangements in relation to Jeff's entitlement under the 2012 LTIP satisfy his contractual entitlement; the Remuneration Committee has not exercised any discretion in his favour.
Following the surrender of options announced on 23 February 2018, the second and final vest of all remaining options to all participants in the 2012 LTIP occurred in full on 2 July 2018.
The extension of the holding period applying to 50% of Jeff's remaining second vest shares (after payment of tax) included a requirement that Jeff not resign from employment with Persimmon and these shares were voluntarily pledged as security against his commitment to stay with the business (the “restricted” shares).
Whilst the Company has sought to mitigate the entitlement falling due to Jeff, as Jeff is leaving at the Company's request, legal advice has confirmed that the Company does not have any discretion to withhold or seek forfeiture over any of the “restricted” 2012 LTIP shares, although these continue to be required to be held until 6 July 2021.
The Company has agreed with Jeff to reduce his 12 month notice period and therefore there will be no further payments of salary or provision of benefits (including pension) after 31 December 2018. Jeff has no bonus entitlement for 2018 and no awards under any of the Company's share plans other than his deferred bonus share scheme awards and unvested SAYE options, which will lapse on departure.
David Jenkinson's remuneration terms will not change on his appointment to interim CEO.
The Company has today separately announced a scheduled trading update for the period from 1 July 2018 to 6 November 2018.
Further details of the remuneration arrangements relating to Jeff's exit from the business have been included on the Company's corporate website in accordance with section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006.