Housing business Wates has announced that Phillippa Prongué will join their ranks in 2025 as executive managing director
Prongué will take over from Helen Bunch, who has been Wates’ executive managing director for four years and has worked for the company for 19 years.
With Bunch in the role, Wates saw 150% growth and an operating profit increase of 73%.
Wates employs 380 staff and generated a turnover of £320m last year, with a forward order book of £2.2bn.
Prongué will take on over 10,000 homes
Prongué has worked at Bouygues UK, where she has been managing director for London and the Southeast since 2023. She previously spent 15 years at Kier, two of those years as corporate development director.
Prongué will assume the new role in 2025, taking on a division of over 10,000 homes in delivery or the development pipeline for the next five years.
“Realising new opportunities for residential development”
Chief executive at Wates, Eoghan O’Lionaird, said: “All of us at Wates are grateful to Helen for her exceptional leadership and contribution to the group. Our residential business has grown significantly under her stewardship thanks to her drive, determination, and commitment to our purpose of delivering much needed high-quality homes for those that need them most. We will all miss her greatly and wish her the best for her retirement.
“Looking to the future, we are delighted to have Pip come on board to continue this work with her proven track record across the sector that spans many high-profile and large-scale regeneration and residential-led development schemes.
“Her expertise and knowledge will support us in driving forward our strategy, building on existing partnerships, and realising new opportunities for residential development across the UK.”
Phillippa Prongué said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining the residential business at Wates. It has already seen immense growth under Helen’s direction. I look forward to joining a team of talented people whose expertise, ingenuity, and diligence has resulted in an exceptional business with a clear purpose, culture, and ambition.”
