On the up
Alan Vaux, ACIOB, has joined London-based firm Ashe Construction Group as managing director. He replaces Stuart Albone, who has left to pursue other business interests.

Mike Wilde is now regional construction director at Benson, taking responsibility for the northern Home Counties.

The Wates Group has appointed a new non-executive director. Peter Johnson joins the firm from Inchcape automotive retailer, where he was group chief executive.

Peter Head is the new MD of Osbourne’s homes division. Head has been with the firm for eight years, and he replaces Stephen Liddle who has become chairman of Osbourne’s homes and maintenance divisions.

Countryside Properties has made two appointments. Matthew Gough has been promoted from land director at the firm’s Bristol office to regional director working out of Newbury. Robert Hart has been promoted to the post of development manager, also based in Newbury.

Parting company
Andy White, chief operating officer of Laing O’Rourke has left after five months in the job. White joined the firm from Alfred McAlpine capital projects in May, but is still working part time for his former company, and has been throughout his tenure at Laing O’Rourke.

Tony Maynard, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders has been shown the door, due to a funding shortfall at the association.

Business development director at Costain, David Swan, has left after just six months. No successor has been appointed as yet.

And sadly Barratt chief executive and chairman Frank Eaton was killed in a car crash last month. Eaton, 52, took over as chief executive of the housebuilder in 1991 and presided over a period of sustained growth, turning a £106m loss into a £220m profit in the first half of 2002.

Chris Powell, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors vice-president, also died last month, suddenly of a heart attack. Powell was due to take over as president of RICS next year.

He was 57.