David Allen also had spells at Crossrail and Laing O’Rourke

Former Wates boss David Allen has joined Mace as its new finance chief.

Allen left Wates in the summer after four years in the role, amid a reported disagreement over the future direction of the business.

He replaced Andrew Davies who was first bound for Carillion, before that firm imploded at the start of 2018, and who then later took up the chief executive’s role at Kier.

David Allen - Mace CFO

David Allen spent eight years at Wates

Allen first joined Wates in 2016 as chief financial officer, after seven years as Crossrail finance director. He was previously finance director for the European construction business at Laing O’Rourke.

Allen replaces Andrew Beck, who took on a role as interim CFO in September this year following the resignation of Richard Bienfait.

Mace has a strategy which will see it look to achieve income of £3bn by 2026 and increase operating profits by 20% year on year.

Mace group chairman and chief executive Mark Reynold said: “David is exactly the person we need to continue to deliver our strategy and build on our work delivering some of the globe’s most complex and challenging infrastructure programmes.”

Wates has not yet named a successor for Allen with speculation the firm will look to appoint outside the industry for its new boss.