AA Projects founder Paul Allen will remain as chairman following MBO

Whitworth Gallery Manchester

Source: Alan Williams

AA Projects鈥 managing director Kenneth Wood has led a management buyout of the Manchester-based consultancy, with founder Paul Allen selling his majority shareholding in the group.

Having started his career as a graduate surveyor at Bucknall Austin in 1987, Allen founded AA Projects in 1999. He will remain chairman following the buyout.

Long-standing directors Niall Wright and Kevin McEvoy have also sold their interest in the firm to the Wood-led team.

Wood, who joined AA Projects in March 2017 from Sweett, where he was regional managing director for England and Wales, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting new chapter, where clients can continue to expect to deal directly with the owners of the business, bucking the trend of corporate takeovers.鈥

AA Projects has worked on a number of schemes across arts, heritage and commercial sectors, including the refurbishment of the grade I-listed Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire and the Whitworth art gallery in Manchester.

Reporting turnover of 拢10m, it has employs more than 100 staff working in six offices across the UK.