Davis Langdon and Aecom are in talks over who will head the business if a takeover deal is agreed
The issue forms part of wider discussions over the future of the UK鈥檚 most renowned QS, as rumours circulate that a sale may be announced within weeks.
Sources suggested that Rob Smith, the senior partner at the 拢208m-turnover business, was to have been replaced by Richard Baldwin this year. However, it is understood that Aecom, which has a turnover of 拢3.8bn, may bring in its own person. This is understood to have been one of the key points of discussion.
One source close to the situation said: 鈥淭he way Aecom works is very much to bring its own people in.鈥�
There is also speculation within Aecom that Davis Langdon could be merged with Savant, the 600-strong QS it bought last May, or other parts of Aecom. Some fear this could dilute the Davis Langdon brand, or ultimately consign it to history.
One Aecom source said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of uncertainty about how this will work. Will some of us have to relocate to Davis Langdon鈥檚 offices in Holborn? And what parts of the existing business will be merged with the various parts of Davis Langdon?鈥�
The uncertainty has prompted some leading industry figures to question the merits of any deal.
Peter Rogers, director of Stanhope, said: 鈥淚鈥檇 question whether I鈥檇 use DL again if the deal happened. Merging such a professional and specialist QS into a large organisation would dilute the ethos.鈥�
Sir Stuart Lipton, of developer Chelsfield, said it would be a 鈥済reat disappointment鈥�, and Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make Architects, said: 鈥淚t would be a bit tragic to lose a famous UK construction name.鈥�
Davis Langdon repeated its denials that it needed the financial support of a larger firm, dismissing talk of a sale to Aecom as 鈥減ure speculation鈥�.
