LONDON, June 19, 2026, 16:03 (BST)
- Barratt Redrow has appointed Rebecca Napier, the ex-finance chief at Britvic and British Airways, as CFO, starting Aug. 3.
- Shares were at around 261 pence, off roughly 0.9% late in the session.
- The next trading update is set for July 15, right after the 2026 financial year wraps up on June 28.
Barratt Redrow shares were down early Friday after the company named Rebecca Napier as its new CFO, moving to fill a key role during a tough UK housing market. High borrowing and building costs remain a challenge. The stock traded at 261.2-261.4 pence, off 0.9% at 16:03 BST, according to delayed data. The FTSE 100 slipped about 0.35% at the same time.
Napier is set to come in as chief financial officer and executive director on Aug. 3. She was CFO at Britvic until Carlsberg bought it in 2025 and worked 17 years at IAG, where she also served as British Airways finance chief for a time. Chair Caroline Silver called out Napier’s “energy, discipline and capital markets experience” as key for the role. Napier said she would focus on “disciplined execution.” Investegate
Napier steps in for Mike Scott, who exited in November. CEO David Thomas is also set to leave, passing the role to Ventia boss Dean Banks late in 2026. Investec’s Aynsley Lammin said the moves “should reassure markets and assuage fears around the gaps at the Board level.” Barratt shares fell 30.8% for the year in early Friday trade. Reuters
Barratt’s board fix hasn’t closed off the earnings story. Back in April, Thomas kept guidance for 17,200-17,800 home completions, citing a “strong forward sales position and advanced build programme” that he said should help shield the 2026 year. Barratt said it was already 94% forward sold, so most forecast completions were in the order book. But the company said higher energy costs would probably push up material prices in the next year. Barratt cut land-approval guidance too, now aiming for 7,000-9,000 plots, down from 10,000-12,000. Barratt Developments
Financing is still an issue. The Bank of England kept Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% this week. It was a 7-2 split, with two members backing a 25 basis-point hike. That doesn’t offer much hope for buyers facing higher mortgage costs.
UK house prices rose 3.8% in the year to April, climbing to £270,000. That’s the largest yearly gain since March 2025. The housing index tracks finished deals, so it mostly shows prices agreed weeks before closing. Affordability is still tight for buyers.
Barratt isn’t the only one feeling the pressure. Taylor Wimpey bumped up its 2026 build-cost target in April, citing new energy-linked supply-chain costs. In May, Vistry flagged a drop in annual profit and plans to cut back on building. Those signals from rivals keep focus on why Napier’s call on capital allocation—how and when to spend—could make a difference before Barratt outlines its expectations for next year’s costs.
But the risk is clear. If energy prices rise again, builders could face higher material and transport bills. High mortgage rates might keep buyer incentives high. Pulling back on land spending can help with cash for now but leaves fewer sites ready down the line. Since the Iran conflict started, listed UK housebuilders have shed over £8 billion in market cap, a sign of how fast risks can upend the sector’s outlook.
Barratt Redrow’s board decision clears up some uncertainty for investors, but it doesn’t address operating risks. The stock barely moved, with the market looking for proof that this year’s guidance holds and cost inflation won’t force cuts to margins or building activity. Barratt Redrow is trading around 261 pence, still down about 45% from its 52-week peak at 475.3 pence.
