All Interviews articles – Page 29
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FeaturesSecond thoughts
Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson’s very funny, very charming and highly critical account of Britain in the 1990s, made Britons look at themselves slightly differently. But what would he write if he took the same journey today?
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FeaturesThe naked project manager
Philip Ashton PhD may be a reluctant televison star, but he’s happy to embrace the publicity Channel 4’s Bricking It has given young people in construction. We meet project management’s answer to Jamie Oliver.
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FeaturesSo I changed my mind …
Peter Dixon is the man in charge of a £422m PFI hospital in London. He has also written in a national newspaper that hospital PFIs have been a ‘costly failure’. We invite him to explain himself – after which we get a second opinion from a woman with very definite ...
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FeaturesThe case against
If Allyson Pollock is right, it won’t be long before PFI hospitals introduce extra charges for anaesthetic. We find out why.
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FeaturesCutter’s way
John Oughton, the mandarin in charge of government procurement, is determined to slash the time and money spent on the bidding process. But can he overcome a creaky civil service and an overstretched construction industry?
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FeaturesTalking up a storm
Wates chief Paul Drechsler has been hired to shake up the century-old family business. And he just loves to natter about it. He tells Angela Monaghan all about framework deals, services, Dublin, PFI schools, his workers … and Eric Clapton.
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FeaturesMr Holt & Mr Black
The chap on the left is the grand wizard who created Mears, the firm that never stops growing. The one on the right has six months to learn how to cast the same spell.
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FeaturesThe ideal partner
John Rackstraw, chief executive of Pearce Group and a devotee of the Egan message, explains how he’s putting the principles of partnering and integrated supply chains into action
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FeaturesTalking balls with the minister
Phil Hope is charge of chivvying the industry into becoming energy efficient, sustainable and security conscious, while simultaneously championing IT and keeping the ODPM green. So a metaphor rather suggests itself, as we point out.
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FeaturesPresident Clinton
He may not yet be the international political force that Bill once was, but Colin Clinton knows how to use power to effect change – and not just at the ICE. We talk to him about his modernising agenda, globalisation and lawn mowing.
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FeaturesThe paradox twins
George Hay talks to Bob Allies and Graham Morrison, the men behind the ‘unfashionable’ architectural practice that’s all the rage with Britain’s biggest clients.
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FeaturesRichard Simmons
The new chief executive of CABE tells Mark Leftly why his last three projects ran into criticism, why Sir Stuart Lipton was right to resign – and why Jon Rouse is such an easy act to follow.
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FeaturesMore haste, more speed
Ministers may have promised a bill for London’s superfast transport link Crossrail next spring, but boss Norman Haste is not leaving his £9bn project until then. We saw him in action at the Labour Party Conference
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FeaturesRichard McCarthy
The sheer get-up-and-go of the head of the ODPM’s sustainable communities group is proving increasingly valuable – particularly in easing the ‘creative tension’ between government and housebuilders. We got him to sit still for a minute.
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FeaturesBernard Kasriel: Realpolitic
Bernard Kasriel, chief executive of Lafarge, talks about environment-friendly technology, negotiating with suspicious governments and the delicate business of digging enormous great holes
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FeaturesWalking in Lucinda’s wonderland
Come with us on a journey past the 6 ft high green rabbit and the shrine to Prickle, Hops and Florence to this couch, where we will sit by Rastus and Roy Rogers while we discuss English heritage with the sublime Lucinda Lambton – part broadcaster, part eccentric and part ...
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FeaturesThe adventures of Simon Cowell’s nicer brother
John Cowell may not have his younger sibling’s Pop Idol fame and fortune, but his construction consultancy has found a way to cash in on the family name. We talk to him about Hendrix, Will Young and Mr Nasty’s notoriously high waistbands.
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FeaturesHi im John w8 ;-)
The chairman of Metronet has two-thirds of London’s dilapidated Underground resting on his shoulders. So why, then, is he so chirpy – and what’s with the texting? We met John Weight to find out.
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FeaturesThe clan McCarthy at work and play
John McCarthy helped to create arguably the most successful housebuilder in Britain, then left after a failed buyout and a row. Now sons Clinton and Spencer are hoping to repeat the trick – with a little assistance from dad, of course.
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FeaturesThe fisher queen
Denise Kingsmill’s impressive CV got Ray O’Rourke hooked enough to hire her as head of his advisory group on human capital. Now she’s got to do some more bait-dangling to get industry bods on board. She spoke to us about fluff, grit and wrestling with salmon.