Strategy rows lead to Amec boss departure

Amec’s radical aspiration of transforming itself into a project manager is believed to have sparked the culture clash that prompted the recent departure of UK construction boss Steve Bowcott.

A company insider told CJ that Bowcott’s departure from the group, following an alleged bust-up with chief executive Sir Peter Mason over the direction of the company, meant the firm had now lost a “leading light” for growing the business.

Bowcott will take over as chief executive of Geoffrey Osborne in the next couple of weeks, following his honeymoon in Mauritius. He says he feels the company is looking to expand geographically and in the right markets.

The source added: “Bowcott had spent the past couple of months totally frustrated with Amec. He tried to persuade Mason that the only real growth potential for the company was from temporarily steering away from the civils market, which is on a downturn, and concentrating more on PFIs and markets such as health, education and Ministry of Defence work until the civils side picks up.

“However, Mason was insistent on pursuing the civils market and wants an even balance between building and civils work.

“Amec is now only really interested in projects that provide a no-risk environment and doesn’t want to work in long-term integrated solutions contracts, which is exactly the way the industry wants to go.

“Amec is totally against design and build contracts. Ideally it wants to be project manager.
If it could be like a Bechtel tomorrow it would leap at the chance.”

The source also said that other personality clashes between Mason and his management team over the future direction of the business were linked to the resignation last week of the group’s finance director Nigel Higgins, although the official line is that he left for “personal reasons”.

“Read into that what you will,” added the source, who also explained that Amec’s board had now been restructured in favour of Mason’s strategy.

This includes the appointment of Alan Lamerton to commercial director and chief executive of Amec’s nuclear business, and John Moss, who is expected to take over Bowcott’s position from his role in AmecSpie.

An Amec spokesman said: “We will not comment on any discussions we may or may not be holding with our senior management.”