Willmott Dixon director leaves

Willmott Dixon's finance boss has left the firm three years after joining from Byrne Group.

Group finance director Philip Wainwright (pictured) spent 10 months at the concrete specialist as interim FD before moving over to Willmott Dixon.

Wainwright's CV also includes more than five years at Laing O'Rourke where his roles included FD, operations director and managing director of its Select Plant Hire business.

Willmott Dixon said Wainwright had decided to leave the £1.3bn turnover business due to changes in the way the company operated.

A spokesperson said: "His finance director role is no longer broad enough to make best use of his experience and wider capabilities, so he is stepping down. Given the kind of changes in our business structure he feels he now has the opportunity to pursue new opportunities."

Willmott Dixon, which is coming to the end of its work restoring a Victorian theatre at Alexandra Palace in north London, is focusing on construction after de-merging its Be Living housebuilding and Fortem repairs and maintenance subsidiaries at the start of last year.

Speaking about Wainwright's resignation, chief executive Rick Willmott said: "The board has enjoyed a great working relationship with Philip over the last three years and much has been achieved in that time. 

"We fully understand Philip’s decision and appreciate his candour and openness around his wish to move on and wish him every success in his future endeavours."

The company's chief finance officer Graham Dundas, who was named Willmott Dixon trainee of the year in 2002, has been promoted to take over from Wainwright, while company secretary Wendy McWilliams has also been promoted to the group board.

Willmott said: "Willmott Dixon has a strong and long history of developing and promoting our own talent. Graham has benefitted from Philip’s mentoring over the last couple of years and is ideally placed to make a seamless transition to the board."  

The promotions mean the board has grown from five to six.