Octagon Group Executive Chairman Retires

Colin comments,

“As I approach the age of 65, and after nearly 50 years in the building industry, I feel it is the right time now to close my toolbox and retire to enjoy more leisure time with my wife and spend time with our two sons, their wives and our grandchildren.”

Since leaving school at the age of 15 and joining George Wimpey & Co as an indentured carpentry & joinery apprentice 2 days after his 16^th birthday, Colin commenced a long and fruitful career in the building industry.

After spending 13 years with George Wimpey, having just completed the building of The Princess Alice Hospice in Esher as Site Manager, he joined Octagon in January 1986 aged 29 as Development Manager.  He swiftly rose to Development Director with a seat on the Main Board in 1988 aged just 31.  He was subsequently appointed CEO in 2001, a position he held until 2017 when he took his current role of Executive Chairman.

During his time with the Company, Colin made a significant contribution to its successful expansion in the luxury residential sector, overseeing not just their legendry modern mansions but also a number of historic flagship developments such as The Water Gardens, Virginia Park, Richmond Lock, and Wall Hall, which all received a string of top design and build awards.

He leaves as Octagon’s latest development, Broadoaks Park, a site he personally saw through a lengthy acquisition and planning period, chalks up record-breaking viewing and sales, despite the limitations of the pandemic.

Colin concludes,

“I will be leaving a predominantly new Board of Directors to continue the ethos of Octagon whilst taking the Company on a rapid growth path and further success.

It has been both a pleasure and my good fortune to work with so many talented people during my career and I feel now is the right time to step back and empower others with different skillsets to take the Company forward.  I look forward to the next chapter of my life in retirement which I hope will be as enjoyable and fulfilling as my working career”.