Jeff Fairburn, group md of Persimmon, will become the housebuilder's new ceo following the announcement that Mike Farley will retire at the company's AGM in April.<br> <br> Farley will step down after seven years in the top post, and almost 30 years at Persimmon. Fairburn joined Persimmon in 1989, and was appointed group md in January 2012.<br> <br> At Galliford Try, Ian Baker has stepped down as the group's housebuilding md due to ill health and withdrawn from the executive board.<br> <br> The firm's two divisional mds, Greg Locke and Paul Cooper, will report directly to group ceo Greg Fitzgerald who will oversee the housebuilding division while a successor is sought "internally and externally."<br> <br> Clive Fenton, former group board member of Barratt Developments, has been appointed chief executive of London property developer Mount Anvil.