Amec man quits

by John Leitch



Malcolm Eckersall, Amec's business development director, is to leave the company following the announcement of the group's new management structure.

Chief executive Peter Mason has divided Amec into three business divisions: capital projects, services and investments. The move is intended to streamline reporting and reduce costs.

Capital projects will be led by David Robson, services will be run by Mike Straughen, while John Early stays in charge of investments.

Eckersall had been with Amec for 25 years. He was on the group's main board and prior to his appointment as business development director was chairman of Amec Construction. A spokesman said: "He decided to leave."

Robson is Amec group's chief operating officer. To help him run the new capital projects division he will be backed by Alan Lamerton and Roddy Grant as managing directors. The division includes civil engineering, construction, M&E and Morse Diesel, Amec's US construction management business, headed by Don Piser.

Straughan is seen within Amec as "a rising star." His services division comprises railway maintenance, utilities services, facilities management and offshore services in oil and gas. Previously he was MD of Amec Process and Energy's offshore business group.

"Much of the culture now coming into construction was first developed in the oil and the offshore sectors," said a spokesman. "Alliancing styles, a desire to see out-turn costs reduced and value engineering have been practised there for a long time."

Early has responsibility for Amec's equity investments and private finance activities.

The £109 million raised from the sale of Fairclough Homes is not yet in hand - Amec having opted to share in Fairclough's profits for the next two years in return for deferred payment.

"The money could be used for acquisitions and for investment in PFI equity," said the Amec spokesman.