Rejig at Bam as two executive directors step down

Two long-serving executive directors have departed Bam’s UK and Ireland division following a rejig of its reporting structures.

Doug Keillor and Bruce Dickson are both stepping down following two years of change at the firm, which has seen its UK and Ireland arms grouped into a single division.

The Dutch giant also sold its German, Belgian and Swiss businesses last year and shut down its loss-making international business.

Keillor and Dickson between them have clocked up more than 60 years at the business having started in 1990 and 1992 respectively.

Dickson left Bam Construct UK where he was regional director for Bam Construction in Scotland to join the wider group last year and lead the transformation into Bam’s UK and Ireland division which came into effect on 1 January this year.

Building understands the pair have both now decided to leave following the completion of the new structure and are planning to take some time off before deciding their future career options.

Keillor said leaving had been a “very difficult decision but one that I know is right for me at this time”, adding that he wanted to use his career break to go on walking trips in Scotland.

Dickson said it was “time to step away and do something different”.

It is understood the departures have come amid a rejig at the top of Bam UK and Ireland, which will see a rearrangement of reporting structures.

A spokesperson for Bam said the firm is now looking at the wider organisational structure of the business and reflecting on whether Keillor’s role is replaced.

Royal Bam has previously said last year’s sell-offs were carried out so more focus could be placed on its core businesses in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

An improved performance from its UK building and civil engineering businesses helped turnover at the firm top €7bn (£5.8bn) in 2021.

Income was up 7% to €7.3bn (£6bn), with the firm’s UK business posting a combined turnover of just over €2.3bn (£1.9bn).

The group said it reported adjusted earnings of €278m (£232m) but restructuring and amortisation costs dragged the number down to €18.1m (£15m) – though this was still a return to the black from last year’s loss of €122m (£102m).