Mattamy Homes said Tuesday it has appointed Larry Nicholson, who recently retired as president and CEO of CalAtlantic Group following the acquisition of the company by Lennar Corporation in February 2018.
Mattamy Homes is North America’s largest privately owned home builder.
“We’re very excited to have an individual with Larry’s deep experience in the home building industry joining Mattamy’s board of directors,” said Peter Gilgan, Mattamy’s founder & CEO. “In particular, we look forward to benefiting from his advice on a range of opportunities and issues as we grow our U.S. business by a significant amount over the next five years. His recent experience in the important U.S. marketplace will be invaluable on our board as we continue to pursue our ambitious growth plans.”
“Among private builders, Mattamy Homes has an exceptionally strong balance sheet and is in the best position to grow exponentially. As such it represents a great opportunity,” said Nicholson. “I have observed a great culture and leadership team, and a number of respected industry players have noted to me what a great company Mattamy is. I’m excited to be joining and look forward to contributing.”
Nicholson was president and CEO, and a member of the board, of CalAtlantic Group, a firm that was formed after the merger of The Ryland Group and Standard Pacific Corp. in 2015. From 1996 to 2015, he held a number of executive positions with The Ryland Group, including president and CEO, COO, president/southeast Region, president/Orlando division and vp/operations, South Region. Before joining Ryland Nicholson served as the vp construction for Transeastern Properties in Florida, and vp/apartment developer for the Berman Development Corporation. He began his career in the home building industry in 1983 with Fairfield Communities as a construction manager.
Nicholson is a member of the Policy Advisory Board, Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and a member of the executive committee of Leading Builders of America. A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 1979.
Privately owned Mattamy Homes chose to establish an external Board of Directors of knowledgeable advisors in 2010 as a governance best practice. In addition to Nicholson, the other external members of Mattamy’s Board also have significant experience and expertise:
- Dave Williams (Lead Director), former non-executive chairman of Shoppers Drug Mart, and former CFO and president, Eastern Canada Operations, of Loblaw Companies Ltd.
- Rupert Duchesne, former group chief executive of Aimia
- The Honorable David H. Wilkins, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
- Margaret Whelan, CEO of Whelan Advisory LLC
