Willmott Dixon has poached Martin Adie, a Balfour Beatty project director, to head its operations in the south Midlands.

Adie’s appointment is part of Willmott Dixon’s plan to increase turnover by 50% to £750m in the next five years.

John Frankiewicz, the contractor’s chief operating officer, said: “Martin has an impeccable background in major contracting, with experience of large, technically challenging projects. He’ll provide support for Midlands managing director Peter Owen as we expand in the region.”

Adie will be operations director responsible for delivery teams working in Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. He will work alongside Owen and his deputy Kevin Watson.

Frankiewicz is in the process of overhauling the Hertfordshire business, and plans to open regional offices, in Manchester and Dartford, Kent, early next year. This will give Willmott Dixon six offices in the UK, each responsible for turnover of about £125m.

Frankiewicz will oversee work at the Manchester division along with Anthony Dillon, who will be deputy managing director of the office.

It is expected that Dillon will assume full control of the region once the business is established. This will mean significant expansion in the north of England.

The Dartford region, which will cover east London, the Thames Gateway and the eastern counties, will be run by Rob Lamb, now deputy managing director of the Birmingham region.