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With more than 70 years’ experience, Tilia Homes proudly builds quality new-build homes and communities across the country.

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Our People

Flower

Chris Severson

Chairman

Chris joined Terra Firma in 2023 as an Operating Managing Director. He has over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles across a number of industries, including P&L management in financial services and construction, and leading business transformation for companies in FMCG, construction, financial services and telecommunications. He began his career as a US Marine and TOPGUN trained F/A-18 pilot.

Chris holds MBAs from Columbia Business School and London Business School, and a Masters from Marine Corps University. Chris is a non-executive Director for Annington Homes, serves as Chairman of untypical, and is also a non-executive Director for the US based non-profit 4-CT. Outside of his professional life, Chris is passionate about skiing, running, and CrossFit. He is a dedicated father to three daughters, cherishes family time and enjoy public speaking, writing, and promoting new thinking about leadership. Chris believes in winning.

Chris Severson - Chairman

Tom Heathcote

Chief Development Officer

Tom is an experienced Executive level operator with over 27 years’ experience in the Construction Industry - including two decades in Housebuilding Sector. With an exemplary track record in Development (land, planning, design, and partnerships), Tom has held instrumental roles originating regional offices for Plc Housebuilders, and most recently was part of the founding Executive Team behind the high growth start-up ilke Homes.

As an Executive leader at ilke Homes, Tom spearheaded development strategies, built high-performing regional teams, and forged strategic partnerships with major industry players to secure deliverable b2b pipeline at scale. Passionate about innovation in housing, Tom blends commercial acumen with a visionary approach to development, ensuring impactful and sustainable growth.

At untypical, Tom brings expertise in leadership, strategy, and execution, setting new standards and driving transformational change.

Tom Heathcote

Heike O'Leary

Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

A highly experienced marketing professional, Heike has worked with leading global organisations, both in-house and in agency, and has a wealth of experience in transforming businesses and their brands.

Prior to joining untypical, Heike has been Group Marketing Director for Lookers PLC, a Senior Brand Strategy Partner for 20.20 Consulting and Brand Marketing Director for adidas Golf. Her most recent position was Chief Marketing Officer with Haines Watts and she has been the European Business Development and Marketing European Vice Chair for GGI Global Alliance since 2023.

Heike O’Leary – Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Graeme Smith

Group Innovation & Design Director

20+ years of experience in the housebuilding sector, Graeme is a trained Architect and developed skills through Architectural practices working directly with both Major and SME developers. Following consultancy Graeme transitioned into a role with Barratt, David Wilson Homes providing internal Technical and Design capabilities. Over his 8-year tenure here, he supported the division through significant growth enabling the development of two additional regions. Experience gained here saw him head hunted by the Hopkins team to improve internal efficiencies in Design whilst also incorporating the ESG ambitions of the Stakeholder. After 2 years of developing the Hopkins brand, Graeme has stepped up to the role of Group Innovation and Design Director ensuring untypical create places where our own people want to live, as well as making a positive difference in our local communities, by being bold and innovative, exploring new ideas and new exceptional homes. Right for our people, our planet, and our communities.

Graeme Smith – Group Innovation & Design Director

Shane Vinyard

Change Director

Shane is an experienced professional with a proven record in quality assurance, operations management, training design and delivery within the construction and security sectors. He is a highly experienced security professional with an Advanced Diploma in Counter Terrorism Operations from the University of St Andrews with specialisation in aviation, maritime and close protection security.

Shane, who previously held the position of Head of Quality following the merger of Hopkins Homes and Tilia Homes, stepped into the pivotal role of Change Director helping shape and drive the untypical commitment to excellence, customer centricity and innovation.

Shane Vinyard

Danny Wilson

Group Legal Director

Having joined Tilia Homes in May 2021, Danny oversees all the business’ legal and compliance enquiries, as well as carrying out the company secretarial function.

He has trained and qualified at leading city law firms prior to starting at Tilia Homes and has held multiple roles in the residential property sector, including seven years at Places for People, one of the largest housing associations in the UK. Danny is now fulfilling this role for both Tilia and Hopkins Homes following the creation of untypical.

Danny Wilson - Company Secretary & Legal Director

David Newell

Group Commercial Director

David Newell brings almost 30 years of experience in the construction and development industry. He initially trained and qualified as a Quantity Surveyor with Taylor Woodrow Construction and AYH (Consultancy acquired by Arcadis in 2005) and then progressed to various leadership roles, including Regional Commercial Director positions prior to progressing into the Group Commercial Director position at Countryside Properties PLC, where he gained invaluable experience of streamlining processes and implementing and sharing best practice. David then progressed further at Countryside Properties PLC and then Vistry Group PLC as Managing Director of Special Projects which involved meeting with the HBF and being involved in the negotiations with the Government on the terms of the Developer remediation contract. As well as building relationships with stakeholders involved in the buildings with defects to be able to bring these projects to commencement. Whilst in the role his team successfully remediated more than 20 buildings across 6 developments to programme and budget as well as setting up the Special Projects team and establishing a pipeline of works to be brought forward.

Currently, David serves as Group Commercial Director for untypical, where he provides Commercial support, guidance and chairs the Commercial Business Improvement Group as well as leading the Group’s Supply Chain management and Group Deals. David has also held a professional qualification as a member of the Chartered Institute of Building since 2006.

David Newell – Group Commercial Director

Kathryn Pennington

Regional Managing Director, Western

Kathryn is the Regional MD of Tilia Homes part of the untypical Group. In addition to her responsibility leading the housebuilding business in the West, her strategic role as part of the untypical board is to shape and support the delivery of the Group’s growth ambition with a strong focus on partnerships delivering multiple tenure housing solutions, place development and sustainable communities.

Kathryn is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in the housing and regeneration sectors. Her experience includes working in housebuilding including as Partner Investment Director and Land & Planning Director for Vistry Group. Kathryn has also worked in private practice for Strutt & Parker and as a director in a large housing association LiveWest.

Her wide-ranging experience and role provide a unique perspective on mixed tenure delivery, regeneration and joint venture working. Kathryn is also a Non-Exec Director of Elim Housing Association. She is a passionate believer in the need to increase delivery of housing across all tenures through working in partnership with communities and the supply chain.

Kathryn Pennington – Regional Managing Director

Gareth Jacob

Regional Managing Director, Eastern

I have been involved in the UK Housebuilding industry for over 25 years. Starting in a Sales Manager role at Berkeley Homes, progressing to Sales & Marketing Director, working in this position for a number of privately owned and PLC businesses, this led to my first Regional Managing Director role at Taylor Wimpey, with a subsequent similar role at Countryside Partnerships, before joining Tilia Homes as Regional Managing Director for the Eastern region just over three years ago.

Gareth Jacob – Regional Managing Director