Davis Langdon in global rethink after Aecom merger

Davis Langdon’s global chief executive has announced a series of high level director moves to focus the business on North America, Australia and New Zealand, following its merger with the £3.5bn US firm Aecom last August.

Jeremy Horner revealed four senior directors will be relocated overseas as part of “strategic moves around introducing a sector excellence at director level, to focus on growth markets”. Davis Langdon will also focus on new sectors, including mining, and oil and gas in central Africa.

Two other directors have made lateral moves to take on roles under the Aecom business.

Horner said: “These director level moves overseas are the start of an ongoing process of moving staff around to where the biggest opportunities are at the moment.”

He added that a number of new growth areas had been opened up to Davis Langdon since merging with Aecom and that it would be crucial for the company to take advantage of this: “We’re in a much better position - now we’re part of Aecom - to work all over the world. For example, Davis Langdon has historically been very underweight in North America and now there is a huge opportunity to put some more people out there in that market.”

Horner confirmed expansion into Africa could result in more staff moves on a project-by-project basis.

In the last quarter, five directors and nine associates have left the firm. Departures have included Richard Taylor, Simon Rawlinson and Mark Lacey, who all moved to EC Harris.

Michael Thirkettle, chief executive of consultant McBains Cooper, said it felt like the growth was being directed by Aecom. “It’s the obvious thing when you are overmanned in the UK. I don’t think they would have had the financial clout to do it [without Aecom],” he said.

Read Building’s full interview with Jeremy Horner

http://www.building.co.uk/comment/interviews/jeremy-horner-we-will-stay-true-to-our-values/5018788.article