Vistry in Talks to Hire Ex-Crown Estate Boss Robert Allen as Interim CFO – Sky News

Vistry Group (LON: VTY), the FTSE 250 housebuilder behind Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes, is in talks to appoint Robert Allen as interim finance chief, Sky News reported on Saturday.

Shares closed on Friday at 237.8p, down 0.92% on the day but up about 7.5% over the week, within a 52-week range of 216p to 746.4p.

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Sky said sources told them that Allen has been acting as a consultant to Vistry in recent weeks, and he is now being lined up to join the company formally.

Vistry has not confirmed the report.

The search began on the 8th of July, when the company said finance chief Tim Lawlor, in the role for over four years, had resigned to become CFO of a large privately owned business in a different sector. He was due to stay until October.

On the 24th of September, alongside half-year results, chief executive Adam Daniels said:

I am pleased to say that we expect to announce the appointment of a high-quality new CFO imminently who will support me with the delivery of our strategy.

Adam Daniels, Chief Executive, Vistry

Those results showed an adjusted loss before tax of £83.3m, against an £80.6m profit a year earlier, and a £475.0m goodwill impairment, a write-down of the value of past acquisitions. Net debt was £468.8m at the end of June, up from £293.1m. Lenders waived interest cover covenants, meaning they agreed not to enforce a loan test, for the 2026 financial year and the first half of 2027.

Vistry said it does not expect to need to raise equity and expects broadly neutral cash at the end of December. Delivering that plan falls to the finance chief, which is why the identity of the appointee matters to the shares.

Friday’s close is about 60% below the weekly close of 604.4p on the 10th of October 2025. The word “interim” suggests the permanent search may still be open, and in July the board said it would provide a further update in due course.