Global chief executive and UK managing director say avoiding consolidation will help firm win work

Turner & Townsend will defy the trend for consolidation in the industry to remain independent, its bosses pledged this week.

Vince Clancy, chief executive of the firm, told Building it did not consider consolidation to be necessary.

He said: “Consolidation is not for us. As we sit here now, and with the market as it is, it is just not something we consider necessary … We are happy to remain the largest independent programme, project and cost management consultant.”

The group’s UK managing director Steve McGuckin added that the decision would distinguish the £204m-turnover consultant from competitors taken over by larger firms.

He said: “Clients want to know that the career of the person they are dealing with depends on the development of the relationship … Medium-sized companies have arguably got
the advantage of scale to deal with big projects but are also small enough to maintain these crucial personal relationships.”

The group will focus on expanding both in the UK and overseas over the next six months to hit targets of 30% growth internationally and 15% growth in the UK year on year.

In the UK, Turner & Townsend’s private sector property division is expected to grow 35% year on year and the infrastructure division to grow 10% year on year.

 

Topics