Wates has promoted David Allen (above), previously the group’s finance director, to the role of chief executive with immediate effect.
Allen, 46, has been serving as the company’s acting chief executive since November 2017.
He joined Wates as chief financial officer and company secretary in January 2016, having spent nearly seven years as Crossrail’s finance director.
He started his role at Crossrail in 2009 from Laing O’Rourke where he was finance director of its European construction business.
Before entering the construction industry in 2004, he worked at Accenture’s Strategy Consulting practice and HSBC Investment Bank’s corporate finance and advisory division.
He is a chartered accountant and has a degree in modern history from St Peter’s College Oxford.
Wates Group chairman, James Wates CBE, said: “Our aim was always to find the very best candidate, either from within our talented senior management team or from outside Wates.
“We are particularly pleased to be able to confirm David in this key leadership role, as it evidences our strength in depth at executive level.
“David has shown an acute understanding of what it means to lead this very special family-owned business and I look forward to continuing to work with him as we progress through the next phase of the company’s history.”
Allen said: “I’m excited about leading the next stage of Wates’ push to become an even more high performing, progressive and sustainable organisation that continues to deliver for, and is trusted by, all of our customers and partners.”
