Rushton steps down as Laing chairman

Jon Rushton is standing down as chairman of John Laing Construction only 16 months after stepping into the breach left when Brian Gregory suddenly resigned.

Laing was expected to announce yesterday that 61-year old Rushton will retire as a full time executive at the end of the month, but will stay on as chairman of construction and director of John Laing Plc until 1 January.

Rushton will be succeeded in the new year by David Blair, director of the construction and international divisions, and chairman of the leisure and plant divisions.

A quantity surveyor with three decades' service at Laing, Blair was chief QS on the prestigious Falklands Island project. Last April he emerged as a front runner for top-level promotion when he was made one of four associate directors of John Laing Plc. His prospects were further underlined in October when he was handed the responsibility of shepherding the civils division after the surprise departure of John Vyse.

Blair has also been made a main board director along with group personnel director Denis Madden.

Three new associate directors have been appointed to John Laing Plc: property chairman, Derrick Ardern; international boss, Bruce Boys; and homes chief executive, Stephen Lidgate.

Derek Featherstone has been made company secretary in place of deputy chairman Robert Wood.