Fresh management structure sees company strive to strengthen position as multidisciplinary company

Currie & Brown has announced a major overhaul of its business as it tries to fend off rumours that it is about to be sold to a rival firm.

Euan McEwan, group chief executive officer, said the overhaul had been implemented to strengthen Currie & Brown’s position as a multidisciplinary company.

He said: “There is huge growth potential, we have completed the restructuring and are now looking to build on four core areas of cost management, project management, building surveying and management consultancy.”

The restructure includes the internal promotions of Dean Sheehy to Birmingham director, Jon Ross to Bristol director and Brian Edwards to Newcastle and divisional director, and the appointment of John Rayson as Manchester director. Rayson previously worked for Franklin + Andrews.

The positions form part of a new company structure that includes five special business units in Scotland, northern England, the Midlands and western England, London and southern England.

The reshuffle follows a tempestuous period for Currie & Brown. In October 2005 six directors walked out, allegedly because of “cultural differences” within the company. A number of high-profile figures followed suit, culminating in the departure of the company’s chairman, Angus McLean, in May this year.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that the firm is to be acquired and it emerged earlier this month that engineering group Sinclair Knight Merz approached the firm with an acquisition offer. The offer was fended off, but it is understood the decision split shareholders.

One shareholder said: “The company could perform a lot better under new management.

It needs a good kick up the backside and that will only come effectively from another company. I’d be surprised if it hadn’t been sold by the end of the year.”

But McEwan is adamant that a fresh senior management structure is set to put the company back on track.