Paul Allen leaves consultant after 25 years, saying he is looking for a 鈥渘ew career challenge鈥�
Davis Langdon鈥檚 head of commercial Paul Allen has left the firm after 25 years, bringing the number of partners who have left the consultant with commercial construction expertise to at least 10 since it was taken over by Aecom in 2010.
Allen worked on some of Davis Langdon鈥檚 signature projects, including London鈥檚 Shard, Broadgate tower and the initial stages of Leadenhall tower.
The news came as Davis Langdon鈥檚 former head of the North in the UK, David Daly, also departed the firm. It is understood Daly鈥檚 departure is linked to Davis Langdon鈥檚 decision to get rid of three management roles in the UK - head of the North, South and London.
Former head of the South, Peter Boote, has taken up a different role based out of the firm鈥檚 Southampton office, while 黑洞社区 revealed in October that Davis Langdon鈥檚 former head of London John Lewis has been relocated to lead the firm鈥檚 project and program management business in Asia.
Partners with commercial construction expertise who have left Davis Langdon since the firm鈥檚 2010 takeover by Aecom, include Mark Lacey to rival EC Harris, Richard Baldwin to client Derwent, and James Clark and Barry Hayden to co-found quantity surveyor Core Five.
Davis Langdon鈥檚 commercial team will be run in the interim by head of tall buildings Steve Watts, head of offices Iain Parker, and Aecom head of real estate in Europe Alex Davey.
Allen told 黑洞社区 he felt the 鈥渢ime was right鈥� to find a new career challenge, although he has not yet decided what this will be. He will first take a career break.
He said he was leaving a team with 鈥渟trength in depth鈥� that is working on 鈥渁 third鈥� of all under-construction central London office schemes. He added Davis Langdon has bolstered its commercial team by relocating head of project management in the Middle East Nick Clare to London, and by poaching Faithful + Gould鈥檚 head of commercial Alastair Kenyon.
He said: 鈥淚鈥檝e had a brilliant 25 years at Davis Langdon. I started off carrying [ex senior partner and current government construction adviser] Paul Morrell鈥檚 bag and worked up to projects that gave a real buzz.鈥�
Steve Waltho, European MD for Davis Langdon, said: 鈥淔or 25 years, Paul has been instrumental in the success and growth of Davis Langdon. His warm personality and sense of humour have made him well-liked and well-respected by both colleagues and clients and his presence and professionalism will be missed.鈥�
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