James Saunders has been appointed chief people officer at Wates Group following Paul Rowan’s decision to retire.
Saunders takes up the job on 6th May 2025 and will sit on the company’s executive committee, working alongside Rowan during a transitional phase.
Rowan, Wates’ human resources (HR) director since August 2014, retires at the end of 2025.
Saunders joins Wates from Highbourne Group, a plumbing merchant, where his job title was chief people & culture officer. He has previously worked in the HR departments of Vodafone and Nationwide.
Wates chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird said: “James is an energetic and agile leader with a passion for creating open, collaborative, purpose-driven cultures where people care deeply about delivering for customers and creating value for society. These attributes are all highly prized at Wates Group, and we look forward to welcoming him.”
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