South West housebuilder Backhouse Housing has announced a series of senior management changes ahead of the planned departure of chief executive officer Ian Jones at the beginning of next year.
From January 2026, Michelle Hyde (pictured) will take on the role of managing director and has also been appointed as a director of the company. Hyde has nearly 30 years of residential development experience and joined Backhouse in 2022 as development director.
In her new role, she will have overall responsibility for delivering the company’s strategic plan and ensuring the highest standards of quality, sustainability and commercial performance.
Chief financial officer Richard Castle has also been appointed as an executive director of Backhouse Housing, Adam Marks has been promoted to operations director and Matthew Bishop has been promoted to construction director.
Jones said: “It has been a privilege to lead Backhouse over the past five years. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, from strengthening our financial and operational foundations to delivering developments that truly reflect the Backhouse commitment to thoughtful design and exceptional homes and communities for our customers. None of this would have been possible without the hard work, professionalism and passion of the entire Backhouse team.
“As I step away, I do so with full confidence in Michelle, Richard, and the wider leadership group to guide the company into its next successful chapter. I want to thank everyone at Backhouse, our partners and our customers for their support during my time here.”
Anthony Henry-Lyons, chairman of Backhouse Housing, added: “We are extremely grateful to Ian for his leadership and the positive legacy he leaves. These new changes to our senior management team, together with the continued input and support of the board, put Backhouse in a strong position to continue our growth trajectory.”
