Taylor Woodrow announces Ian Smith as next chief executive

Ian Smith will become the next chief executive of Taylor Woodrow in January when Iain Napier steps down after five years in the post.

Smith, aged 52, is chief executive officer of the General Healthcare Group. He has had a career with an international flavour, moving across numerous market sectors. Earlier spells included time with Exel, the logistics group, and the global strategy consultancy Monitor.

Smith is an adjunct professor of business at Imperial College, London.

Napier announced his intention to move on earlier this year. During his time at the helm at Taywood, he has overseen a considerable transformation, from a group with a disparate group of business streams to a focussed housebuilder.

Bryant Homes, which had been acquired just before Napier took over, was successfully integrated. Housebuilder Wilson Connolly was subsequently added to Taywood’s firepower, keeping it up in the country’s top three grouping along with Persimmon and Wimpey.