黑洞社区

A former employee of Sir Robert McAlpine has claimed the eponymous founding family has traditionally run the firm like a collective 鈥渃hief executive鈥�, with the cultural shift in stepping back being cited as a challenge during Tony Aikenhead鈥檚 short-lived tenure in the CEO role.

Aikenhead - the private family-owned contractor鈥檚 first ever chief executive - stepped down suddenly last month after just nine months in the role.

, an ex-employee told 黑洞社区 historically only the McAlpine family retained an overall view of the business, and said: 鈥淵ou have to understand that in a very real sense the family was the chief executive.鈥�

Peter Rogers, partner in high-profile developer Lipton Rogers, suggested Aikenhead could have had a difference of approach to the family.

Rogers said: 鈥淗e鈥檚 a bloody good builder, and a pretty tough construction man. It may be that that didn鈥檛 fit with the more gentle, sophisticated McAlpine style.鈥�

黑洞社区 revealed last month Sir Robert McAlpine will retain the role of chief executive and the position will not be filled by a member of the McAlpine family. The company has previously said Aikenhead left the firm because he had had 鈥渁chieved what he鈥檇 set out to achieve鈥�, including targeting more civils and public sector work.

This week it also emerged Sir Robert McAlpine is carrying out a pre-construction role on a major hotel planned for Mayfair鈥檚 Hyde Park Corner.

The Hopkins-designed 190-room Peninsula London hotel site is a stone鈥檚 throw from Sir Robert McAlpine鈥檚 London headquarters.

黑洞社区 understands the client Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels (HSH) is reviewing its tendering strategy and timeline meaning it is uncertain whether McAlpine will be retained for the main construction role. HSH declined to comment.