Kage’s rapid rise through ranks
Kage’s rapid rise through ranks puts him on course to pick up national award
A former Royal Marine who has risen through the ranks to become a Vistry Group director in just eight years has been shortlisted for a national award.
Kage Brennan, who spent four years with the Royal Marines and took part in an operational tour in Afghanistan, is a construction director with Drew Smith – part of housebuilder Vistry.
The 31-year-old, who is based in the Southampton area, has been nominated in the Young Leader category in the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards.
He is one of six Vistry employees who were chosen as finalists from 700 nominations.
Kage joined Drew Smith in 2015 as a site manager and in his first year working in the industry he won a National Home Building Council’s Pride in the Job Quality Award.
In 2018, Kage was promoted to the role of contracts manager looking after three projects which saw him help deliver 250 new homes for the open market and for three housing associations.
In 2021 he took on the role of Drew Smith’s construction manager, where he was responsible for overseeing 18 sites across the south of England and in early 2022 he was promoted to the role of construction director.
During his time with the business Kage has gained a reputation for leading by example and for never backing away from a challenge. His dedication and enthusiasm helped him to become one of the youngest construction directors in the industry.
Kage said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey with Drew Smith and there is no doubt that my time in the military helped me enormously to progress my career.
“The Royal Marines helped me to develop as an individual and as a leader. It also instilled in me the importance of maintaining the very highest standards in everything I do both as an individual and as part of a team.”
Bovis Homes – also part of Vistry – was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Gold Award for the Employer Recognition Scheme in 2019. It first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016 and was the first dedicated housebuilder to receive the Gold Award. Vistry re-signed the covenant last year to reaffirm its commitment to the armed forces, including providing employment opportunities and helping those connected to the military onto the housing ladder.
The British Ex-Forces in Business Awards take place at Grosvenor House in London on 8th September.
