Former Crest boss Mike Freshney dies

Former Crest ceo, Berkeley executive director and industry stalwart Mike Freshney has died this week while on holiday in Barbados.

Freshney worked as an engineer at Taylor Woodrow Homes before rising to lead Crest Homes. He held many senior industry posts including chairman of Beechcroft, executive director of Alfred McAlpine Homes and non-executive director at CALA. He was chairman of NHBC Building Control and a director of the Home Builders Federation.

Later in his career he became a director at charity Habitat for Humanity, encouraging the housebuilding industry to raise funds to build homes for the poorest in the world through its Hope Builders Campaign.

HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley said:

"I am deeply shocked to learn this terrible news. I have known Mike for over 40 years. He was my first boss when I joined Crest Homes in the early 1980s. He was a thoroughly decent gentlemen who enjoyed a long career in the industry which he also served tirelessly. He was a director of HBF for many years and served on the Consumer Code for Home Builders and Robust Details. He was also a passionate supporter of industry charity Habitat for Humanity. My thoughts are with his wife Joan and …