Board of Directors

Following a career in sales management in multi-national companies, Howard founded Shropshire Homes in 1981, the idea sparked by a conversation over a few pints with some recently unemployed friends!

Howard was Shropshire Homes’ Managing Director for almost 40 years, steadily growing the company to employ over 100 people, and to date build over 3500 homes across Shropshire. In 2019 he stepped down and handed the reins to Richard Shackleton, but still remains heavily involved in his role as Chairman.

Fun Fact – Howard is a CAMRA member and has climbed all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District, so his dream weekend is walking his dog over a mountain to a real ale pub!

Richard trained as an accountant with Tarmac Housing Division back in the 90s and held Finance Director positions with a couple of companies before leading a division in Northampton for Morris Homes as Regional Director. Prior to joining Shropshire Homes as Finance Director in 2018 Richard was Managing Director of the Castlemead Group for 10 years.

In 2019 Richard was promoted to Managing Director here at Shropshire Homes taking over from Howard Thorne.

Fun Fact – Richard is an avid rugby fan and has held a season ticket at Leicester Tigers since 1998 when he lived in Leicester with his wife, Lisa.

Helen began her career in construction as a Sales Executive at Persimmon West Midlands in 2014, which was a total career change to anything she’d done before.

Moving to Shropshire Homes as a Sales Executive in June 2017, it was just three months before she was promoted to Field Sales Manager. Helen continued to excel in her career, becoming Sales Manager in July 2021, and Head of Sales & Marketing in March 2022.

Following the completion of her MBA, Helen made Shropshire Homes history in December 2022, becoming not only our first Sales & Marketing Director, but the first female director at the business!

Fun Fact – Helen is a keen player of sports, boxing at her local gym as well as playing hockey for Newport Women’s Hockey Team.

Tom previously worked at Taylor Wimpey as Commercial Manager, following gaining a 1st in his BSc in Construction Project Management.

He began working for Shropshire Homes as our Commercial Director in 2021 at the age of just 27, making him the company’s youngest director. He is also our first Commercial Director!

Fun fact – Tom is a keen golfer and runner, and ran the London Marathon in 2024.