Guus Hoefsloot steps down after housing slump and rising costs hits Heijmans' profit

Leadbitter chief executive Bob Rendell has said he is disappointed by the resignation of Guus Hoefsloot, chairman of Dutch parent group Heijmans.

Hoefsloot resigned yesterday after the company forecast profit after tax for 2008 of €50m (£40m) – down 11% on last year’s figure of €56m.

The group blamed the poor performance on the slump in the housing market and an increase in building costs.

Rendell said: “I remain confident that the Heijmans Group is robust and diverse enough to positively overcome its current situation.”

He pointed to pre-tax profit of £9.2m on turnover of £263m in the year ended 31 December 2007. In 2006 turnover was £180m and pre-tax profit was £5.4m

Heijmans has not yet appointed a replacement for Hoefsloot.

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