MJ Gleeson names Andrew Kirkman as CFO as Stefan Allanson steps down after 11 years

MJ Gleeson has appointed Andrew Kirkman as chief financial officer from Monday 19 October 2026, succeeding Stefan Allanson, who is stepping down after 11 years in the post, the housebuilder announced on 8 October.

Kirkman will also join the board as a director. The company said the appointment followed an extensive search as part of an orderly succession process.

Allanson will formally leave the board on Friday 16 October 2026 and remain available to support the handover until 31 December 2026, MJ Gleeson said.

Graham Prothero, CEO of MJ Gleeson plc, said: "He has been a steadfast CFO to three CEOs in that time and helped to steer the business through some of the most turbulent periods the housebuilding sector has had to endure."

The new CFO

Kirkman qualified as a chartered accountant in 1996 and then spent six years in investment banking, according to MJ Gleeson. The company said he was most recently CFO at commercial property group CLS Holdings plc and has also held the CFO role at Viridor.

CLS Holdings announced on 30 June 2025 that Kirkman had tendered his resignation as its CFO and director to take a CFO role at another business. Lennart Sten, Chairman of CLS, thanked him at the time for his dedication and diligence, and Kirkman said he had enjoyed his six years with the company.

Before CLS, Kirkman was at Harworth Group plc, the regeneration and strategic land business. Harworth announced on 20 October 2015 that he would join its board as Finance Director from 1 January 2016; MJ Gleeson's announcement describes the role as CFO. Harworth also said that before Viridor he had been Global Head of Corporate Finance at Bovis Lend Lease.

Andrew Kirkman said: "I am excited to join MJ Gleeson, a business I have long-admired since previously being based in Sheffield, and look forward to bringing my extensive wider experience to the business."

Prothero said Kirkman brings more than 30 years' experience in senior financial roles across the wider sector and arrives well-versed in the business.

The business he inherits

MJ Gleeson runs two businesses: Gleeson Homes, which builds low-cost homes in the North of England and the Midlands, and Gleeson Land, which promotes land through the planning system for housing in the South of the country.

Allanson presented the group's results for the year to 30 June 2026 alongside Prothero on 15 September 2026. Gleeson Homes sold 1,968 homes in the year, up from 1,793, of which 320 went through partnership agreements. Group revenue rose to £410.0m from £365.8m, while adjusted profit before tax fell to £10.8m from £21.9m. Gleeson Land completed five land transactions.

Measure	FY2026	FY2025
Homes sold by Gleeson Homes	1,968	1,793
Group revenue	£410.0m	£365.8m
Adjusted profit before tax	£10.8m	£21.9m

Gleeson Homes entered the new financial year with a forward order book of 848 homes. The board said it expects the group's result for FY2027 to be in line with current market expectations.

Board background

Prothero is the third chief executive Allanson has served as CFO. He joined the board as chief executive on 1 January 2023, the same day James Thomson succeeded Dermot Gleeson as non-executive chairman following Dermot Gleeson's retirement from the board on 31 December 2022.

Kirkman takes up his post on 19 October, with Allanson's handover support running to 31 December 2026.