Persimmon Homes Wessex has appointed two of its own to senior positions in the business.

Ben Hale swaps his Construction Director role to become Operations Director – overseeing the region’s construction and customer functions – while former Senior Contracts Manager Lee Bell moves to Head of Construction, with responsibility for the department.

Ben started in the industry with Persimmon 25 years ago as an apprentice bricklayer when he was 16. He progressed through the ranks, becoming a site manager in 2010, contracts manager in 2014, and Construction Director in 2020. In his most recent role, the business won five Pride in the Job awards under his supervision.

Like Ben, Lee began his career aged 16 – he tried his hand at various trades before settling as a carpenter and moving into site management. He became a site manager for Persimmon in 2014. After a period with away from the company, he returned as a contracts manager four years ago after winning a Pride in the Job award.

The accredited five-star housebuilder has live and forthcoming sites in Chippenham, Didcot, Grove, Hilperton, Midsomer Norton, Trowbridge, and Warminster.

Commenting on his appointment, Ben said:

“I am really pleased to have been trusted with this new position in Persimmon Wessex and will be working hard to build on the business’ success.

“I have enjoyed many years working in the construction department and would say that supporting my team to deliver five Pride in Job awards was a definite highlight for us.

“I’m very proud of the effort that the whole team here in Wessex continues to put in everything we do and I look forward to carrying that on in this new role.”

Remarking on his new role, Lee added:

“Being part of a great team and seeing the fruition of the teams’ efforts coming through from conception to reality has been a hugely rewarding part of working for Persimmon.

“In this new role – which shows confidence in the work my site teams and I have done – I look forward to continuing to create safe environments for our staff and subcontractors to work in, whilst delivering high-quality homes for our customers.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as Head of Construction and look forward to meeting our high standards in the role.”

Seb Spiller, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, also said:

“These appointments reflect the strength of the talent within the Wessex region and our commitment to developing and promoting our people.

“Ben has made a significant contribution to the business and has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, commitment, and a focus on delivering high standards, making him an excellent fit to be our Operations Director.

“Lee has played an integral role in the success of our construction team and has shown a strong commitment to quality, health and safety, and customer satisfaction. This promotion recognises his hard work and dedication to the business.

“I am confident that both will make a significant contribution in their new roles as we continue to build on our successes and drive the business forward.”