Support services group Amec has fired Steve Bowcott, managing director of its construction services business, for what the company described as “substantial breaches of business conduct”.

A spokesperson for Amec confirmed that Bowcott had been sacked and left the company last week, but would not go into details about the nature of the alleged breach of conduct.

He said: “After internal proceedings, Stephen Bowcott was effectively dismissed last month but because of an internal appeal process he was not officially dismissed until last week.”

He denied recent reports that Bowcott’s departure was prompted by a disagreement with Amec chief executive Sir Peter Mason over the direction of the business. One report said that Bowcott had left because he thought the company should be focusing on PFI work, while Mason was focusing more on civils work. This was also denied by Amec.

Building was unable to contact Bowcott for comment.

Bowcott joined the company two-and-a-half years ago, after he was poached by Amec from Mowlem, where he was managing director of the construction business.

In November last year he appeared to support the changing direction of the business when it withdrew from the quoted construction sector and relisted under support services.

Stephen Bowcott was effectively dismissed last month

Amec spokesperson

At the time he told Building: “It’s a logical step as 75% of our work globally is in services, and 75% of our operation in the UK built environment sector is in services.”

He said the business would focus on long-term partnering, alliances and framework deals within Amec’s core markets of transport, oil and gas, education and health.

John Moss has replaced Bowcott as construction managing director. Moss, trained as a civil engineer, has worked at Amec for 31 years and was managing director of Amec-Spie Rail for the past six. Kevin Beauchamp has replaced Moss as managing director of Amec-Spie Rail. Amec’s construction business employs about 3400 people, primarily in the defence, education, healthcare, nuclear, transport and water sectors.

The group has an overall turnover of £5bn and employs about 44,000 people in more than 40 countries.