Board of Directors

Rob Perrins BSc (Hons) FCA

Chair

Rob joined Berkeley in 1994. He has been a Main Board member since 2001 and Chief Executive from 2009 until September 2025, having previously been CFO from 2001. Rob became Executive Chair on 5 September 2025 following the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Under his management, Berkeley has increasingly focused on transforming large-scale brownfield sites, which are beyond the scope of conventional homebuilders; most recently putting in place Berkeley’s 10-year strategy, Berkeley 2035, including the development of the Company’s own Build to Rent platform.

He has worked extensively in property development throughout his career, working on projects ranging from single houses to mixed use neighbourhoods with more than 10,000 homes. Rob champions Berkeley’s operating culture and values, which are based on customer focus, individual design, exceptional placemaking and a commitment to delivery for all stakeholders. He oversees a highly disciplined but decentralised operating structure that fosters accountability and innovation, chairing the boards of Berkeley’s autonomous operating companies. Rob additionally oversees Our Vision 2030 and is the named Board-level sponsor for the Climate Action strategic priority area. He has a firm foundation of knowledge and personal interest in the natural world and climate science having completed a degree in Geology, together with an understanding of the business need to take action.

Rob was the founding Chair of the Berkeley Foundation, an independent charity that works in close partnership with the Berkeley Group to maximise its positive social impacts. He remains a Trustee Director.

Rob is an Independent Non-Executive Member of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Public Interest Body and a Non-Executive Director of Grosvenor Property UK.

Rachel Downey ACA

Senior Independent Director
Non-executive Director

Rachel was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 8 December 2017 and Senior Independent Director on 8 September 2023. She is a member of the Nomination and Audit Committees.

Rachel's experience in real estate development and operation brings extensive industry expertise to the Board. She is Project Director of Manchester Life, a joint venture between Acre Real Estate Investment & Development LLC and Manchester City Council, established in 2014 to make a significant contribution towards achieving Manchester’s regeneration and residential growth ambitions. Manchester Life is passionate about creating thriving communities and has delivered 1,500 homes, with 500 more planned for its third phase. Rachel is Managing Director of Manchester Life Management Ltd, which leases and manages a portfolio of over 1,000 apartments built by Manchester Life.

Rachel, a Chartered Accountant, is also Senior Independent Director of Lancashire County Cricket Club and Chair of the Club’s Development Committee.

Richard Stearn BSc (Hons) FCA

Chief Executive

Richard Stearn was appointed Chief Executive on 5 September 2025, following a decade as Chief Financial Officer since joining the Board in April 2015. He originally joined Berkeley in 2002, serving as Group Financial Controller until 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, he was Finance Director at Quintain Estates and Development plc.

Alongside former CEO Rob Perrins, Richard played a pivotal role in shaping Berkeley 2035, the Group’s 10-year strategy, including the establishment of Berkeley’s Build to Rent platform.

As Chief Executive, Richard is now responsible for delivery of the Berkeley 2035 strategy and for the Group’s operational performance.

With over 22 years of direct experience in the property and development industry, Richard brings strategic and financial expertise, sector insight, and disciplined execution to his leadership. 

Richard trained and practised for 12 years as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, advising a wide range of clients across sectors.

Andy Kemp BA (Econ) FCA

Non-executive Director
Chair of the Audit Committee

Appointed a Non-executive Director on 1 July 2021, following his retirement from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") after a 39 year career with the firm. Andy is a Chartered Accountant and was a senior partner at PwC in London, advising the boards of some of the UK's largest multinational companies. Andy brings extensive knowledge of accounting, risk and governance matters having been an audit partner for 27 years and through his chairmanship of the PwC Non-Executive Director Programme. Andy was previously a member of PwC's Audit and Risk Assurance executive board. 

Andy is a Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, Irwin Mitchell Holdings Limited, Member of the Board of the Audit Committee Chairs’ Independent Forum and Governor and member of the Audit Committee, Birkbeck University of London.

He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Natasha Adams CCIPD

Non-executive Director
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Natasha is Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer of Tesco PLC and is a member of the Tesco PLC Executive Committee.

Immediately prior to her current role, Natasha was Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Ireland and prior to that, Group Chief People Officer of Tesco PLC. 

Natasha has experience as a Trustee of the Tesco Pension Scheme and is a member of the Board of Ibec. 

Natasha brings to the Board valuable insight on commercial, social governance and people matters. Natasha is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee.

The Ven. Elizabeth Adekunle

Non-executive Director

Appointed as a Non-executive Director in January 2021. The Venerable Elizabeth Adekunle is currently a Non-executive Director of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and a Chaplain to His Majesty the King. Elizabeth was previously Chaplain to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (since April 2017) and Archdeacon of Hackney in the Diocese of London. She was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in April 2019.

Elizabeth is on the Board of STRIDE, Metropolitan Police Board, a member of the National Police Chief’s Ethics Committee and also a Board member of Hive Education Trust. She was previously Chair of the Monuments and Plaques Committee at St Paul’s Cathedral. Elizabeth has considerable experience of social and ethical matters and brings a valuable perspective on the potential of urban regeneration and good place-making to improve the lives of those living in the communities within which Berkeley operates.

Liz was appointed a Trustee Director of The Berkeley Charitable Foundation on 11 July 2023.

Sarah Sands

Non-executive Director

Sarah is a journalist by profession and was Editor of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme from 2017 to 2020. Prior to this, Sarah was Editor of The Evening Standard and The Sunday Telegraph and has held Editor in Chief and Consultant Editor roles at Reader’s Digest and the Daily Mail.

Sarah is a Non-Executive Director of Channel 4, a Partner at Hawthorn Advisors and a Member of the Board of Trustees of The Science Museum Group. Sarah is a founder of the Braemar Science Summit and was Chair of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for G7 for 2021 and has continued to sit on the Advisory Council in 2022 under the Germany Presidency, in 2023 under the Japan Presidency and in 2024 under the Italian Presidency. Sarah sits on the board of Walpole and is also a trustee of the Quintessentially Foundation. In 2023, Sarah was acting Chair of the British Council.

Sarah brings to the Board a broad insight on economic, political and social matters and a valuable perspective on issues such as the environment, sustainability, community and inclusivity.

Sarah was appointed as a Non-executive Director on 30 April 2021 and is a member of the Audit Committee.

Richard Dakin

Non-executive Director

Appointed as a Non-executive Director in September 2025, Richard brings over four decades of experience in banking, real estate finance, and corporate governance. He recently retired as Europe Head, Investment Banking and Debt and Structured Finance at CBRE Group, where he also served on the UK Management Board and Executive Committee and Chair of the Risk Committee.

Prior to CBRE, Richard spent 32 years at Lloyds Banking Group, holding several senior leadership roles including Managing Director of Corporate Real Estate, Business Support, where he played a critical role in the resolution of the group’s distressed real estate loans following the GFC. His career at Lloyds also included being Head of Major Corporates and International Banking, with a strong focus on structured finance and risk management.

Richard served for over nine years as a Non-executive Director at Derwent London plc, where he chaired the Risk Committee and was a member of the Audit and Nominations Committees. 

Richard has also held positions on the management board of the Association of Corporate Treasurers, the BPF Policy Committee, and attended the Bank of England Property Forum.

A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and previously an Associate of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Association of Corporate Treasurers, Richard brings deep expertise in banking, capital markets, and real estate expertise across a range of property sectors.