Tilbury Douglas chief executive Paul Gandy – a key figure in the firm’s turnaround – will step down in November.
Gandy oversaw Tilbury Douglas’ transition from subsidiary of the ailing Interserve to become a standalone tier one contractor.
He joined the firm as construction managing director in 2019, just after Interserve’s subsidiaries were sold to its lenders in a prepack administration. Gandy previously worked for Kier, where he served as major projects director.
He rebranded Interserve, reverting to its former Tilbury Douglas name in 2021, and announced the following year that the firm would operate as a sole contractor.
In its first full year under the new structure, the company reported a modest pre-tax profit of £5.8m, up dramatically from the £94m loss posted the year before, which was caused by the costs of separating from Interserve.
Tilbury Douglas was ranked 43rd in the CN100 list of top contractors last year.
Gandy leaves his role to prepare for his upcoming Chartered Institute of Building presidency, which he will take over from Mike Kagioglou in summer 2025. He will continue to work with Tilbury Douglas as a part-time adviser to the board.
He said: “It has been a real privilege to have led the turnaround of Tilbury Douglas and have seen the business growing again from a solid foundation.
“I thank all my colleagues, our board and our shareholders for their hard work and encouragement during that time.”
Chief operating officer Craig Tatton will take up the chief executive mantle. Tatton joined the company in 2017 as its regional building director. Before that, he had roles as chief operating officer at Bouygues UK and managing director at Willmott Dixon and ISG.
Tatton said: “Our business is poised ready for its next phase, steadily broadening our portfolio of services for customers, while working alongside our suppliers, to enable growth of careers, profits and cash.
“People matter and I am proud that at Tilbury Douglas we remain committed not only to everyone’s safety and health, but to sustainable contributions within the communities we serve.”
Gandy started his 45-year construction career in 1979 as a trainee engineer with Trollope and Colls. He also served in stints as managing director at Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Lendlease and Multiplex.
Speaking to Construction News in 2022 after the transition from Interserve to Tilbury Douglas, Gandy said the firm was “sticking to its knitting”.
He added: “There are those who do well managing the status quo and there are those who like to face into a challenge. My chair always tells me: ‘You like to walk towards the sound of gunfire.’”
