Contractor looking to break into Top 10 league table

Dave Smith

McLaren Construction has appointed former Wates veteran Dave Smith to head up its contracting arm as the firm returned to profit last year and eyes a spot in the Top 10 contractors鈥 league table.

In results filed at Companies House, the firm moved back into the black with a pre-tax profit of 拢4.1m on turnover of 拢481m in the year to July 2016. The previous year鈥檚 result saw it crash to an 拢11.8m loss on revenue of 拢378m.

The company said that Smith (pictured), who left Wates last October after 32 years at the business, would be starting his new role as construction managing director in April.

Chairman Kevin Taylor said: 鈥淢cLaren will benefit considerably from an appointment of Dave Smith鈥檚 calibre.

鈥淲e are looking to enhance our business moving forward, as we are now on the cusp of being a Top 10 UK contractor.

鈥淭o take us to the next level, we need to further enhance our excellent team and Dave will add that.鈥

Taylor said that turnover for the current financial year was expected to top 拢600m.

In other management changes, Phil Pringle becomes group executive director while Maurice Archer is promoted to group commercial director while Craig Young is moved up to group finance director. And David Murphy has been promoted to managing director of the firm鈥檚 distribution and mixed-use business.