Barratt Developments yesterday became the first of the big housebuilders to warn of a marked slowdown in house price growth and it is now up to Charles Toner, the group’s 65-year-old chairman, to offer what former colleagues have described as his “wise light touch” to his chief executive, Mark Clare, to help him through what may be turbulent times.

Of particular concern will be ensuring that future company messages about house prices do not whip consumers into a panic.

Mr Toner joined Barratt in May 2002 after a 35-year career with Abbey National, the last three as deputy chief executive.

When he started at Abbey, the housing market was in the doldrums as Britain’s economy staggered under the strain of power cuts, strikes and the three-day week, culminating in the fall of Edward Heath. By 1992, with another Tory government struggling to cope with recession and a housing crash, Mr Toner had joined Abbey’s main board as managing director of its retail division.

He retired from Abbey in 1999, a year after Ian Harley, another main board director, leapfrogged him to win the chief executive job.

Non-executive director roles came Mr Toner’s way including a seat on the board of Ford Credit Europe Bank, a role he still holds. A couple of years sitting as deputy chairman of the National House Building Council, an industry trade body, helped to open doors to the boards of housebuilders. Barratt quickly snapped him in 2002 up as a nonexecutive. One month later he was appointed Barratt’s non-executive deputy chairman.

But in October of that year, Barratt’s chairman and chief executive Frank Eaton was killed in a car accident, propelling Mr Toner into the chairman’s role.

This year Mr Toner and Mr Clare sealed a £2.2 billion acquisition of Wilson Bowden. It is now up to Mr Toner to help his new chief executive to manage change at Barratt after the deal. His experience handling harder times will be invaluable.

Mr Toner is married with children, lives in Hertfordshire and keeps a flat in Edinburgh. He relaxes with a game of golf.