Laing O’Rourke has formally welcomed Seamus French as its Europe Hub MD and CEO-designate on Monday of this week. 

The news follows last November’s announcement that Ray O’Rourke, founder, majority shareholder and group CEO, will step down as group chief executive in September 2022.

Almost 45 years after Ray, with his brother Des, began business with a single £2,500 concrete structures project, he will join Des as a deputy chairman of the group, and continue his focus on innovation, people development and major clients.

The appointment of French, the current CEO of Anglo American’s bulk commodities and other minerals division, will facilitate an orderly CEO handover following the delivery of the FY22 (April 2021 - March 2022) trading period, audit and accounts. French will then become group CEO and Europe Hub MD.

Welcoming French to the company’s head office in Dartford earlier this week, Ray O’Rourke said: “I am delighted to welcome Seamus to the business and look forward to working with him over the coming months to ensure a smooth CEO transition. He is a world-class executive, and his strong plc background and experience of leading international operations will help us continue to improve our performance and deliver long term growth.”

French added: “It’s an honour to have been appointed by the board to lead this business and I cannot wait to get started. As a non-executive director, I’ve been hugely impressed by the Laing O’Rourke team, its technical and engineering expertise, strong order book and vision to transform construction and build safely and sustainably. We have exciting ambitions and great opportunities ahead of us, as we continue to innovate and redefine how this vital industry delivers the buildings and infrastructure that people and communities need.”