Wates brings in Mace boss for commercial director role at London building business

Wates has brought in Mace Construct’s operations director Kevin Grace as its new commercial director at its London building business, Building can reveal, with the firm saying it marks a move into challenging for bigger and more high-profile jobs in the capital.

Grace has been at Mace for more than 12 years and has been in his current post as operations director (commercial) for nearly five years. He has been Mace’s commercial lead for the firm’s British Library extension job which it won last summer.

The move underlines the renewed push into the London building market Wates has been making under new boss George Mosey who took over from Steve Holbrook in the spring. Mosey arrived at Wates last March after more than 16 years at Laing O’Rourke.

One rival said: “Wates is looking at a revival in London building. They haven’t won too much recently but George Mosey has been brought in to change that. I expect them to see on tender lists for some of the bigger stuff going forwards.”

Wates said the move forms part of Mosey’s ”reset of the Wates Construction London business, strengthening its leadership and the team’s capabilities on large-scale and high-value construction projects, in both the public and private sectors”.

Mosey said Grace will join in October and added: “I am delighted that Kevin will be joining us. This is an important appointment for our London business, enhancing our commercial capability and positioning us as a strong partner for customers in the London market.”

Last year, Wates brought in another Mace staffer by recruiting the commercial director for its major projects arm, Pat Fitzgerlad, to be its new chief commercial officer.

Meanwhile, the firm has confirmed that regional commercial director Chris Hill has left the business.

Hill went in the spring and Wates added: “Chris Hill left the business to pursue other opportunities [in May]. We are grateful to Chris for his contribution during his time with the company and wish him well in his future endeavours.”