Grenville joins the Board as the fourth Non-Executive Director for the department in addition to Sara Weller, Stephen Hay and Nick Markham.

Permanent Secretary, Sir Bob Kerslake, welcomed Grenville’s appointment by saying:

I am pleased to welcome Grenville as Non-Executive Director for the department. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience which will be an asset to the department. We are looking forward to having him on board.

On his appointment to the role, Grenville said:

I am looking forward to joining the DCLG Board. I hope that my experience and knowledge of communities and the property sector will allow me to make a valuable contribution to the DCLG. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to enrich the debates within government and regulators when devising policies and plans to ensure we create vibrant and cohesive places for people to live and work.

Further information

1. Non-Executive Board Members are appointed by the Secretary of State and are experts from outside government. Their role is to advise the department on performance (including agreeing key performance indicators), operational issues (including the operational/delivery implications of policy proposals), and on the effective management of the department. They will also provide support, guidance and challenge on the progress and implementation of the business plan, and be involved in recruiting, appraising and planning succession of senior executives.

2. Following a career in retail banking, Grenville Turner joined the Countrywide Group in August 2006 and became Group Chief Executive in January 2007. Grenville has 38 years experience in retail banking and the property sector, past directorships have included Rightmove.co.uk, St James’s Place Plc, Sainsbury’s Bank Plc and Realogy, the largest Realtor in the US. Currently, Grenville is Executive Chairman of Hamptons International, Chairman of Knightsbridge Student Housing Ltd and of Bellpenny Ltd, he is also a Non-Executive Director of Zoopla Property Group. Grenville qualified as a Chartered Banker in 1982 and holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.