McGee commercial director leaves with former incumbent taking up interim role

McGee commercial director Michael Collins has left the business after just eight months, citing personal reasons.

In an update at the end of last month, the London-based demolition and groundworks specialist said Collins, who joined in February from Sir Robert McAlpine after a near-10 year stint at the firm, was leaving and a filing made at Companies House last week confirmed he had stepped down as a director.

Collins, who is believed to live in Northamptonshire, said: “Joining McGee represented an exciting opportunity for me and quite a change in direction. During my time with McGee, I’ve met with many talented and committed colleagues across the business.

“However, the difficult and lengthy commute has made me question the sustainability of that decision.

“Following open and constructive conversations with [managing director] Bernard [O’Reilly], we’ve agreed this is the right time for the company and I to move in different directions. I leave with great respect for the organisation, the people in it and I wish the business every success in its future endeavours.”

McGee said that its former commercial director Paul Maguire, who rejoined the business as a non-executive director in the spring after leaving last summer, had been appointed interim commercial director.

McGee has undergone a senior management rejig in the past few months with O’Reilly replacing Seb Fossey who formally leaves the business later this autumn. O’Reilly has been with McGee 14 years and took over from Fossey, who arrived from Laing O’Rourke in 2017, in April.

Last month, McGee said a £3.6m bad debt on a London hotel job helped send the firm to a pre-tax loss last year.

In accounts for the 12 months to November 2025, McGee said the bad debt and delays to jobs starting sent it to a £2.8m pre-tax loss from a £5.3m profit last time. Turnover was down 11.5% to £134m.