Skanska has abruptly parted company with Simon Hipperson, the head of its PPP division, after differences over what the company called his “leadership style”.

Hipperson is the second high-profile departure from the division in the past two months – Nick Pollard, the vice president, recently to join Bovis Lend Lease as chief operating officer of its UK division.

Hipperson left with immediate effect earlier this week, and without a permanent successor in place.

A spokesperson for Skanska said: ”His leadership style didn’t really fit in with the leadership style of Skanska.

“It’s not about anything else. We have no hard feelings about Simon, we’re happy with his results and the strategy in the division. He hasn’t done anything unethical or illegal it’s just his leadership style.”

The spokesperson said a successor to Hipperson was being sought, but in the interim Thomas Alm, executive vice president of Skanska, would take over the role.