黑洞社区

Recent changes:

Last month marked a momentous shift in power at the UK鈥檚 largest privately-held contractor, as Ray O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 long-time right-hand woman (see below).

The move is the first time Ray O鈥橰ourke has entrusted the business to anybody else since he founded R O鈥橰ourke & Sons in 1978.

During that time O鈥橰ourke, through the audacious takeover of Laing Construction in 2001, has turned the one-time concrete subbie into a 拢3.5bn-turnover international construction powerhouse.

But the appointment comes at a very difficult time for UK construction firms, and Laing O鈥橰ourke is no exception.

The notoriously publicity-shy company鈥檚 practice of direct employment saw it make massive redundancies after the 2009 crash in the Middle East and reductions in the European business since.

An overall headcount of 35,753 in 2009 has now fallen to 14,747 - a drop of nearly 60%.

Laing O鈥橰ourke is now also looking at where it can make further cost reductions and expects the full benefit of these measures to be realised in 2013/14.

Although margins have held up in the UK, the firm reported a 拢39m loss in its rapidly growing Australasia business last year and the firm鈥檚 order book has remained flat, at around 拢8.2bn over the past three years.

Last week 黑洞社区 revealed that Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 head of new nuclear, who played a key role in the firm winning the 拢2bn Hinkley civils package, Norman Haste,

In April it merged that Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 development and design director Ross Gates, was Gates鈥� responsibility at Laing O鈥橰ourke stretched across the education, healthcare, commercial and retail sectors, and he had a heavy involvement in the development of the firm鈥檚 standardised schools offering.

Meanwhile, Callum Tuckett, head of Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 UK business, has been appointed chief financial officer and chief commercial officer. Tuckett has been Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 UK boss since February 2012.

Tuckett鈥檚 appointment leaves his post as UK boss vacant. Tom Higgins, director of the north of UK and the director of the south UK Tommy Drumm, will report to Roger Robinson, director of Europe, until a replacement is found.

Meanwhile, director Howard Shiplee also announced that he will be leaving the firm this month to take up a role at the Department for Work and Pensions, leading the roll out of the government鈥檚 new Universal Credit welfare system.

Who is Anna Stewart?

Anna Stewart, 48, is the woman seen as the closest confidante of Ray O鈥橰ourke for the best part of a decade. A qualified QS, she joined Laing Construction in 1982 as a trainee and came over as part of the 2001 takeover that created Laing O鈥橰ourke. Coming from a building background and with a strong interest in international growth, she was quickly promoted, becoming group commercial director in 2004 and group director of finance and commerce in 2010.

With a reputation as a tough operator relied on heavily by Ray O鈥橰ourke, Stewart has been the constant presence at his side while other senior staff, such as erstwhile chief operating officer Tony Douglas, have fallen by the wayside. Steve Beechey, currently group investment director at Wates but a former head of education at Laing O鈥橰ourke, says: 鈥淪he is just an incredibly competent and effective individual, without question one of the most impressive people that I鈥檝e dealt with in the industry. She is sharp, gets on with people and can get to the nub of an issue very quickly.鈥�

Latest results:

Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 pre-tax profit fell 22% to 拢23.4m for the year ended 31 March 2012.

The contractor - whose highlight of the year was the successful delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Park as part of the CLM delivery consortium - saw revenue edge up 6% to 拢3.5bn over the period, up from 拢3.3bn the previous year.

The Australian division grew its revenue to 拢1.5bn from 拢1.3bn, while the European business edged up to 拢2.8bn from 拢2.7bn.

The firm disclosed that its total staff numbers fell to 14,747 from 14,964, but the overall remuneration for staff increased to 拢733.9m from 拢711.9m the previous year.

The company says:

Not very much. But in its last annual report, Ray O鈥橰ourke said sales growth would be 鈥渁 challenge鈥� this year - but added he was confident of increased activity in selected international markets.

He said: 鈥淲e are confident that 2013 will bring stronger activity, with China and the emerging nations continuing to drive their aggressive economic development plans.

鈥淲e expect major government and private-sector investment to continue in development territories in Australia, Canada and Hong Kong, where we are well-placed to generate substantial business, alongside demand from Qatar, where investment to boost international trade is increasing.鈥�

He added he was 鈥減articularly gratified鈥� that the firm was involved in the successful delivery of London 2012 venues and infrastructure and the company was 鈥渉onoured to be involved鈥�.