Calverley groomed to takeover at Try

David Calverley is poised to take over the running of the Try Group as chief executive and expand its housing activities.

The ex-Trafalgar House and Ideal Homes man was appointed 12 months ago to head up Try Homes. The current chief executive, 61-year-old Peter Howell, said the plan was for Calverley to succeed him after he retires next year.

As head of Try Homes, Calverley has overseen a turnaround in the 160-unit-a-year company from a loss of œ888,000 in 1993 to a œ212,000 profit. He is expected to move the group more deeply into housing, while maintaining its current level of contracting.

Try is presently looking to buy a south east-based housebuilder with a landbank of around 200 plots. 'We are not looking to buy earnings; the landbank is the key,' said Calverley.