Terry Chapman, the former managing director of construction manager Schal, who left the company in April after a failed management buyout from parent Carillion, has joined Initiate Consulting as chief operating officer.

Chapman has joined the board of Initiate, which was founded about six years ago by David Law. The London-based company employs about 50 people and provides a range of services including construction management, project management and development management.

Steven Norris, the Jarvis chairman and former Conservative MP, is one of two non-executive directors at the company.

Chapman, who is a well-known figure in the industry, parted company with Carillion after his failed buyout and a disagreement with Carillion’s decision to merge Schal into its general construction business.

Chapman this week said: “Formerly I was a board director at Mace and it was a bit of déjà vu when I joined Initiate, which has a motivated team.”

Chapman said that growth plans for the company included new regional offices in the UK and a joint venture with a property developer in the Middle East.

Initiate’s clients include BAA, Parkview International, Metronet, the NHS and Barclays Capital.

Chapman was behind Schal’s unsuccessful bid to win the construction job on the £400m redevelopment of the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London. Schal lost out to Bovis after a protracted tendering process.