Laing O’Rourke chairman and chief executive Ray O’Rourke says he does not intend to appoint a successor to former chief operating officer Andy White.

O’Rourke said the group did not need another chief operating officer because the integration of Laing had been so successful.

“It’s not an issue. We are one of those companies that has a flat structure. Andy handled the restructuring and it went so well that it was a job that wasn’t there after five months,” he said.

White’s departure in September after just five months shocked the industry and led to rumours that he had been forced out by O’Rourke.

White left the company to set up his own property development firm. He had joined Laing O’Rourke in April from contractor Alfred McAlpine.