Gloucester-based Mears Group has appointed a new chairman as Bob Holt bows out.

Mears, a provider of support services to the social housing and care sectors in the UK, has announced that Kieran Murphy will take over as a non-executive director and chairman.

The changes take place in the New Year following the retirement of Mr Holt who has led Mears on a hugely successful path of growth over 23 years to become a major player in the sector.

Kieran Murphy has spent much of his career working in finance. He joined the Civil Service after university, spending 8 years at HM Treasury. His subsequent executive career was in the City, firstly at Kleinwort Benson, a leading UK merchant bank and, more recently, at Gleacher Shacklock, a boutique corporate finance advisory firm.

At Kleinwort, he built a market-leading corporate finance advisory business in the building and construction sector and became a member of the bank's Investment Bank Management Committee. At Gleacher, he extended his advisory work into the business services sector.

Mr Murphy also has extensive experience as a non-executive director, having previously been on the board of Kingspan Group and currently being on the board of Aliaxis SA. He is chair at the Ordnance Survey, Great Britain's national mapping business, and is on the boards of the University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust and of the University of London.

Earlier this year Mr Holt indicated to the board his intention not to stand for re-election at the 2019 AGM.

David Miles, chief executive of Mears, said: "I am pleased to welcome Kieran Murphy to the board of Mears. He brings a broad range of valuable experience into the boardroom as we continue to drive the business forward. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.

"At the same time, we must all recognise the great contribution that Bob Holt has brought to Mears over the past 23 years. His commitment and guidance still underpins much of the business here today. Bob leaves with our thanks and we wish him every success in the future."

Kieran Murphy said: ""I am delighted to be joining the board of Mears. The company plays an important role in the UK housing market and I look forward to working with the board and management team to continue to build on the leading sector position it has created."

Mears employs over 10,000 people nationwide and provides services in every region of the UK. In partnership with its housing clients, it maintains, repairs and upgrades the homes of hundreds of thousands of people in communities from remote rural villages to large inner city estates.

Mears care teams provide support to over 15,000 people a year, enabling the elderly and those living with disabilities to continue living in their own homes.