Ryland Group Inc. appointed Larry Nicholson as its chief operating officer, the Calabasas homebuilder said Wednesday in a statement.

Nicholson will be responsible for Ryland’s homebuilding, marketing, purchasing and safety operations and will report to Chairman and Chief Executive R. Chad Dreier.

Nicholson has more than 25 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and has been with Ryland for more than a decade, most recently as president of Ryland Homes’ Southeast region.

Shares in Ryland closed up 29 cents to $41.88 in trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares have lost 30 percent since the beginning of the year.