Boardroom wrangle saw David Allen leave last summer

Wates handed its former boss David Allen nearly 拢1m in compensation last year after he left the company amid reports of a boardroom bust-up.

According to the contractor鈥檚 full accounts for 2022, an unnamed executive, believed to be Allen, was handed 拢992,000 in 鈥渃ompensation for loss of office鈥, on top of a 拢491,000 salary.

Allen, who is now chief financial officer at Mace, became Wates鈥 chief executive in 2018 but left the company suddenly last July.

David Allen, Chief Executive, Wates Group

Since his departure, David Allen has become CFO at Mace

Neither he nor Wates cited a reason for his departure but it was believed to be a disagreement over the future direction of the business.

At the time, group chairman Sir James Wates praised Allen鈥檚 鈥渋ntelligence, commitment and compassion鈥 and thanked him for his contribution to the firm.

Chief financial officer Philip Wainwright took over as an interim before eventually being replaced by Eoghan O鈥橪ionard, previously a chief executive at a listed marine services firm, in February.

Wates鈥 turnover hit a record 拢1.89bn last year, although pre-tax profit was down 6% to 拢33.7m.

O鈥橪ionaird told 黑洞社区 last month that battery manufacturing plants could be a growth market for the firm, having recently begun work a 拢500m gigafactory in Sunderland 鈥 its largest ever job.