Johnston sets up own firm after summer split at MDA

Charles Johnston, the former managing director of consultant MDA, has set up his own business.

After leaving the firm in August after a boardroom disagreement Johnston has set up Intelligent Property Group.

Ian Storrier, MDA’s former finance director, who left with Johnston, will be finance director.

The company, which is based in Farnborough, Hampshire, will focus on property management, including energy and sustainability issues. Johnston said it aimed to secure a £10m turnover next year.

He said: “We’re acquiring a number of service delivery companies as part of the package. We’ve bought a company in Bournemouth and we’re looking at another in the South-west.”

He added that he was about to secure a contract with a big retailer. Johnston comes from a retail background having worked as construction director for Sainsbury’s before joining MDA.

Johnston and Storrier have completed the sale of their shares to MDA management. Johnston owned a 16% stake and Storrier owned 10%.

Johnston, who led a buyout in 2002, wanted to diversify MDA beyond its roots in quantity surveying but this was resisted by the board, prompting his departure.

Among other personnel changes at consultants, Franklin + Andrews (F+A) has lost Craig McLellan, its director of sports, to Gardiner & Theobald.

F+A has suffered several defections over the past few years following the departure of Kevin Arnold, who was its managing director.

McLellan had been at the company for eight years.

Sport is one of the company’s most lucrative portfolios and includes work on Wembley and the Lansdowne Road stadium in Dublin.

A spokeswoman for F+A said there was no cause for concern. She said: “Two directors headed that division. This won’t affect the portfolio at all.”

At Gleeds, Michael Rowley and Stuart Senior have been appointed to the board after two equity partners left.