Cavanna Group appoints new Operations Director
6th May 2010
The Cavanna Group - the largest independent house builder in the West Country - has announced the appointment of Eugene Rapson as Director of Operations.
The former Financial Director has taken over responsibility for all projects while Managing Director Jeremy Cavanna, who has recently become the company Chairman, will continue to have overall responsibility for land acquisition and planning.
Torquay-based Cavanna Homes is a third generation family business which was established in 1923 by Philip Cavanna. The Company has been managed for the past 25 years by Jeremy Cavanna, Jonathan Cavanna (Marketing Director) and Martin Cavanna (Construction Director). Last year the company recorded its second best ever year for house sales in spite of the recession and a challenging climate for house building.
Eugene Rapson has been with the Cavanna Group for the past ten years and became the first non-family Financial Director in the company’s 87 year history. It is planned that he will take up the role of Managing Director at a later date as part of the company’s succession strategy. A new Financial Controller is currently being appointed.
Cavanna Homes currently has six sites in development in Devon, Somerset and Dorset; The Salterns at Bideford, Millbrook Mews at Milborne Port near Sherborne, Foundry Mews at Tavistock, The Green at Bere Alston, the final phase of Evolve at Torquay and the first phase of Cobham Field at Plymouth Airport.
Commenting on Eugene Rapson’s appointment Jeremy Cavanna said; “In Eugene we have someone who understands the industry, shares our values and has won the confidence of the family and the support of the staff. With Eugene at the helm, the Cavanna Group will be driven forward in the way our grandparents would have been proud of.”
This is the start of a process that will see the current family directors pass over day to day decision making so that they can continue to concentrate on the strategic direction of the company.
