Laing O’Rourke has snapped up a former senior director of Mowlem to head its M&E arm Crown House, Building has learned.

It is understood Liam Cummins, the former managing director of Mowlem Asset Services, Mowlem’s support services arm, has been appointed managing director of Crown House. The post has been vacant since the departure of John Moore, who left to join Balfour Kilpatrick last summer.

Cummins left Mowlem in June, after seven years at the company. His position will now be filled by an internal candidate, John Platt.

The loss of Cummins comes during a troubled period for Mowlem, which made 200 job cuts in May. Last week the firm said it would be closing some of its loss-making construction businesses, which have a combined turnover of about £50m.

Crown House has a five-year framework deal to provide M&E services on Laing O’Rourke projects, including Heathrow Terminal 5.