Davis Langdon and Aecom are in talks over who will head the business if a takeover deal is agreed
The issue forms part of wider discussions over the future of the UK’s most renowned QS, as rumours circulate that a sale may be announced within weeks.
Sources suggested that Rob Smith, the senior partner at the £208m-turnover business, was to have been replaced by Richard Baldwin this year. However, it is understood that Aecom, which has a turnover of £3.8bn, may bring in its own person. This is understood to have been one of the key points of discussion.
One source close to the situation said: “The way Aecom works is very much to bring its own people in.”
There is also speculation within Aecom that Davis Langdon could be merged with Savant, the 600-strong QS it bought last May, or other parts of Aecom. Some fear this could dilute the Davis Langdon brand, or ultimately consign it to history.
One Aecom source said: “There’s a lot of uncertainty about how this will work. Will some of us have to relocate to Davis Langdon’s offices in Holborn? And what parts of the existing business will be merged with the various parts of Davis Langdon?”
The uncertainty has prompted some leading industry figures to question the merits of any deal.
Peter Rogers, director of Stanhope, said: “I’d question whether I’d use DL again if the deal happened. Merging such a professional and specialist QS into a large organisation would dilute the ethos.”
Sir Stuart Lipton, of developer Chelsfield, said it would be a “great disappointment”, and Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, said: “It would be a bit tragic to lose a famous UK construction name.”
Davis Langdon repeated its denials that it needed the financial support of a larger firm, dismissing talk of a sale to Aecom as “pure speculation”.
