Contractor looking to break into Top 10 league table

Dave Smith

McLaren Construction has appointed former Wates veteran Dave Smith to head up its contracting arm as the firm returned to profit last year and eyes a spot in the Top 10 contractors’ league table.

In results filed at Companies House, the firm moved back into the black with a pre-tax profit of £4.1m on turnover of £481m in the year to July 2016. The previous year’s result saw it crash to an £11.8m loss on revenue of £378m.

The company said that Smith (pictured), who left Wates last October after 32 years at the business, would be starting his new role as construction managing director in April.

Chairman Kevin Taylor said: “McLaren will benefit considerably from an appointment of Dave Smith’s calibre.

“We are looking to enhance our business moving forward, as we are now on the cusp of being a Top 10 UK contractor.

“To take us to the next level, we need to further enhance our excellent team and Dave will add that.”

Taylor said that turnover for the current financial year was expected to top £600m.

In other management changes, Phil Pringle becomes group executive director while Maurice Archer is promoted to group commercial director while Craig Young is moved up to group finance director. And David Murphy has been promoted to managing director of the firm’s distribution and mixed-use business.