It’s hard to let go: Laing O’Rourke and the problem with succession

By Dave Rogers2022-10-20T07:00:00

13Dec19RayORourkePowell-9.5.18-Laing O'Rourke-3

The latest man tipped to replace Ray O’Rourke is leaving after less than a year. Dave Rogers considers why the septuagenarian founder is still at the helm of his firm

Balfour Beatty might be bigger, Sir Robert McAlpine more aristocratic and Morgan Sindall way more profitable than any of them. But no construction firm continues to fascinate the industry like Laing O’Rourke does.

Much of that is down to the septuagenarian who runs the firm and, especially as he gets older, the ongoing question of who will eventually succeed him.

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