Builders merchant boss to head BuildOnline

Oliver, a former civil engineer with the Kier Group, was previously the managing director of builder's merchant the BSS Group.

The post is newly created, to provide more substance to BuildOnline's UK operation.

Oliver said that he joined BuildOnline because "The construction industry won't support all the portals that keep cropping up. BuildOnline has a good management team with technical experience, and it has tools that work. It is also one of the only construction portals that has a European focus rather than a US one."

Oliver also stressed the importance of BuildOnline's technology background as well as its construction one. "There's no reason why contractors will have knowledge of how to be a technology company. The industry needs specialists in IT as well as those with knowledge of the construction process to deliver construction portals."

He added that he also preferred BuildOnline's integrated approach. "The portals market will go the same way as office computing. In four to five years time most people will be using one integrated suite of products, just as Microsoft Office dominates office software at the moment."

BuildOnline has also launched a legal service, in partnership with construction law firm Masons. MasonsOnlaw will provide up to date summaries and fortnightly reports on all areas of the law affecting the construction industry, such as health and safety and proposals for a corporate killing law. The service can be accessed through www.buildonline.com.