<b><b>Beechcroft split</b></b><br> Although the company is poised to shake up the retirement housing sector with luxury apartments in Surrey at &amp;£2 million each, Beechcroft Developments appears to be getting ready to part company with co-founders Henry Thornton and Guy Mossop.<p></p><p>Both went on to two-day weeks after Christmas at the company which was acquired by Laing Homes in February 2000. Former chief executive Thornton, who cannily steered Beechcroft through penny share status after it floated on AIM in 1996, reflects: &amp;“The company is now going its own way, a bit more corporate than before, and it doesn&amp;’t really suit me.</p><p>&amp;“I am not walking out on Beechcroft, merely moving from executive to non-executive. Everything was worked out amicably with Laing chief executive Steve Lidgate in the latter part of last year. It gives me a bit of time to consider other things&amp;”. Still only 52, Thornton is expected to re-appear in another start-up venture before long, possibly before the year is out. </p><p>The Beechcroft shake-up appears to provide a starring role for managing director Chris Thompson, a Thornton prot&amp;ég&amp;é lured back from Berkeley just ahead of the Laing takeover.</p><p><b><b>Blunt about Bill</b></b><br> Talking of Laing, Investors Chronicle has warned us to stand by …