Set to commence his role at the end of November, Mr White joins BRE Group for the next three years and brings a wealth of experience to the role, having filled almost 40 senior board positions in a career spanning more than 30 years, including almost a decade as non-executive director at Hyde Housing, one the UK’s largest housing associations.

Mr White also acts as chairman for MOD technology business Ploughshare Innovations, and for Heathrow Airport’s export and import service Courier Facilities Limited. Prior to these roles, he was UK chief executive and a member of the group management board of Bank Insinger de Beaufort NV, until the sale to BNP Paribas in 2008, and also spent 15 years in retail banking at Barclays, where his last role was service director running the UK branches with 20,000 staff.

Mr White said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead this important organisation at a time when it can provide vital leadership to the myriad challenges currently facing the building environment sector.

“Challenge brings opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the leadership team and BRE Trust to ensure BRE continues to play a leading and innovative role in building construction, performance, safety and sustainability.”

BRE Group CEO, Gillian Charlesworth, said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Piers, whose skills, energy and ambition for BRE are clear. I’m confident that, with Piers in the chair, BRE will play an ever more important role in enhancing the built environment.”

Sir James Wates, chair of the BRE Trust, which owns BRE Group, added: “I would like to congratulate Piers on his appointment. He brings extensive board and business experience which will be an asset to our profit for purpose agenda.”