Board of Directors
Michael Dobson
Appointed as an independent Non-executive Director on 8 June 2022. Michael became Chairman on 6 September 2022. Michael brings extensive leadership, corporate and financial experience to the Board. He stepped down as Chairman of Schroders plc in April 2022 after six years, following an executive career in the City spanning over 40 years. Michael was Chief Executive of Schroders plc from 2001 to 2016 and previously held a number of leadership positions at Deutsche Bank AG, including Head of Global Asset Management, Head of Global Investment Banking and a Member of the Board of Managing Directors. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Morgan Grenfell Group PLC and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. Michael is Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Rachel Downey ACA
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 currently a Non-Executive Director of Lancashire County Cricket Club and Chair of the Club’s Development Committee.
Rob Perrins BSc (Hons) FCA
Rob joined Berkeley in 1994. He has been a Main Board member since 2001 and Chief Executive since 2009, having previously been CFO from 2001. Under his management, Berkeley has increasingly focused on transforming large-scale brownfield sites, which are beyond the scope of conventional homebuilders.
Rob 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 21 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 has been a Trustee and Chair of Trustees of the Berkeley Foundation since its launch in 2011, stepping down as Chair in April 2024 and remaining a Trustee. This independent charity works in close partnership with the Berkeley Group to maximise its positive social impacts. Since October 2023, Rob has been an Independent Non-Executive member of PwC’s Public Interest Body.
Richard Stearn BSc (Hons) FCA
Richard re-joined Berkeley on 13 April 2015 as Chief Financial Officer, having previously worked for the company from 2002 to 2011 as Group Financial Controller. Prior to re-joining Berkeley, Richard spent three years at Quintain Estates and Development plc, becoming its Finance Director in July 2012.
Richard is responsible for the Group’s finance, investor relations, treasury, tax and insurance functions. He also leads on strategic risk management and has oversight of the Group’s IT function.
Richard has 21 years of direct experience in the property and development industry. Prior to joining Berkeley, he trained and practised for 12 years as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, auditing and advising a wide range of clients.
Andy Kemp BA (Econ) FCA
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
Appointed as a Non-executive Director on 1 February 2022, Natasha is Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Ireland since 7 March 2022 and is a member of the Tesco PLC Executive Committee. Immediately prior to her current role, Natasha was Group Chief People Officer of Tesco PLC. Natasha has experience as a Trustee of the Tesco Pension Scheme and is a Trustee of the Institute of Grocery & Distribution.
Natasha brings to the Board valuable insight on commercial and social governance matters. Natasha is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee.
The Ven. Elizabeth Adekunle
Appointed as a Non-executive Director on 5 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.
William Jackson
William is the Founder of Bridgepoint Group plc, one of Europe’s leading alternative asset management groups, which he has led since 2001. William has served on a wide range of UK and international boards during his career and stood down as Senior Independent Director of British Land plc in 2020 and as a Non-Executive Director in March 2021.
William is also Senior Independent Director and Non-Executive Director of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. William brings extensive property, commercial, financial and PLC experience to the Board.
William is a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
Sarah Sands
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 is a member of the Audit Committee.