A civil engineer by background, Nick Pollard has been at Bovis since joining from Skanska in October 2007 as a virtual chief executive in waiting.

Pollard himself says he is similar in many ways to Coleman – “I wouldn’t have come here if we weren’t likeminded.”

Despite this, he has a more reserved manner than Coleman, and some sources at the company view this as an advantage in the current climate “He’s a good listener, and that will go down well with clients,” says one.

Pollard’s CV

Nov 2008 Chief executive, Bovis Lend Lease UK

October 2007 Chief operating officer at Bovis

2005 Skanska, executive vice president after heading up PFI division

2002 Part of directorate leading change in newly formed Network Rail

Formerly employed by Railtrack for five years. He faced manslaughter charges over the Hatfield rail crash, but these were quashed in 2004.