High profile names join Davis Langdon exodus

Directors of Davis Langdon’s successful office, retail and residential sectors are among the high profile names to lose their posts in the firm’s cull of senior figures.

Building understands that high profile names to leave the UK business include James Clark, head of the offices sector, Barry Hayden, head of corporate real estate specialising in the fit-out market and Gerard Cook, head of private residential.

Clark, who worked with Davis Langdon clients Stanhope and Land Securities, leads a team in London that undertakes most of the firm’s commercial work.
Longstanding figures working in the regions, including Sam Mackenzie, director of the Scottish business and Mike Ladbrook, director of the Norwich office, are also understood to be leaving.

In addition to the UK exodus, more senior figures from the Middle East business are to join Erland Rendall, Davis Langdon’s UAE-based thought leadership director, in departing the business. Nick Schumann, managing partner of building specifications division Davis Langdon Schumann Smith, is understood to have stepped down, and Ian Memmott, director of international hotels and resorts will also leave.

Insiders said those departing would be freed from the two year non-compete clauses stipulated by Aecom upon its buy-out of Davis Langdon in October 2010.

One source close to the process said: “It’s alright for Aecom to say its strategy is all about growth but when leading lights in the prime of their careers are going people are going to ask what’s going on.”

Davis Langdon declined to comment on which individuals are to leave. It confirmed the director-level review had now completed, and that 33 UK directors will depart through a “combination of voluntary and compulsory redundancies.”

Jeremy Horner, global chief executive for Davis Langdon, said: “This was a difficult but necessary process and I am confident that we now have the right people in the
right places.”