This week’s moves have seen a leading construction outfit move decisively into the building safety space, while firms have also swooped to appoint senior staff from collapsed contractor ISG.
Compliance triumphs
Paul Woodhams
McLaren Construction has appointed Paul Woodhams as managing director for building safety and refurbishment.
As operations director with the firm for the past three years, Woodhams has been responsible for complex and large-scale remediation programmes on residential and mixed-use estates, including Chalcots Estate in Camden.
His promotion to the newly created role signals McLaren’s determination to build its presence in the rapidly expanding building safety sector.
Woodhams will oversee a growing team specialising in regulatory compliance, complex building remodelling, recladding and mechanical and electrical upgrades.
“Building safety and refurbishment is a growing market for our business, as developers seek to comply with the latest building regulations,” said John Butten, managing director for regeneration.
Friends in the North
McLaren is also looking to beef up its Midlands and North division with three senior hires.
Luke Arnold, who previously spent 14 years at ISG before the contractor went into administration in September, becomes operations director, working alongside managing director Gary Cramp to expand the business in the region.
New divisional director Darren Harding will have responsibility for purpose-built student accommodation schemes across the Midlands and North, while regional commercial director Adam Craven oversees the business’s commercial function.
Cramp said the expertise of all three would accelerate positive change for McLaren in the region.
Wates in line
Former ISG director Wayne Flannery has joined Wates as managing director of construction for the firm’s West region.
Flannery previously spent eight years leading public and private sector projects at ISG, serving as the firm’s regional managing director in the North following a stint as regional director of its Midlands business.
Wates said Flannery’s background, which includes significant work on public sector frameworks, would be “invaluable” in his new role.
His appointment also sees him become a member of Wates’ construction board, where his strategic expertise will help drive growth and innovation across the division, the firm said.
Crowded house
Members of the ISG alumni have also joined Structure Tone.
The firm had already surprised the sector by revealing in September that former ISG chief executive Matt Blowers was coming on board as the new joint managing director.
Structure Tone has now hired Chris Peters, who was commercial director for UK fit-out, for the same job at the London-based firm. He spent nearly 18 years at ISG with roles including commercial and divisional director.
Joining him will be Nick Oddy, who will become director of strategy. His previous roles, during nearly 12 years at ISG, included fit-out director and preconstruction director. He announced on social media: “Exciting times for everyone in the business.”
Rebel MMC
Reds10 revealed it had been on the hunt for new roles on the top team, with David Newey and James Bateman becoming directors.
Both are new appointees coming from the housing sector. Newey was previously regional development director at Lifestory Group and Bateman joins Reds10 with nearly six years of experience as head of construction at A2Dominion Group.
“Both bring considerable experience of large-scale delivery, and we are thrilled to have them on board,” said Reds10 chairman Paul Ruddick.
Counting the cost
Colin McCaffrey
Property and construction consultancy McBains has bolstered its strategic cost management capabilities with the appointment of new director Colin McCaffrey.
McCaffrey joins fellow director Bernard Osei at the top of the firm’s London cost management team, which he will help steer in its next phase of growth and development.
He brings two decades of experience in delivering complex projects in the higher education, healthcare and life sciences sectors, having spent the past seven years in senior roles at Fulkers Bailey Russell and Capita.
The team provides a range of quantity surveying services focused on cost management, financial control and value optimisation for construction projects.
McBains managing director Clive Docwra said McCaffrey’s “impressive track record” would ensure he played a pivotal role in the firm’s future.
