Ex-Wates veteran Dave Smith heads over to UK鈥檚 biggest contractor after just 18 months at London firm

Dave Smith

Balfour Beatty has nabbed Dave Smith from smaller rival McLaren to head up its regional construction business in the South of England.

Smith joins after 18 months at the east-London based contractor, which is working on a 拢35m scheme (pictured) to turn the former home of the Guardian newspaper on London鈥檚 Farringdon Road into a 180-bed hotel, offices and retail.

Smith spent over 30 years at Wates and only joined McLaren last April as its construction managing director with his move being hailed by McLaren chairman Kevin Taylor as 鈥渢aking us to the next level鈥�.

Balfour鈥檚 UK construction boss Dean Banks said the firm will 鈥渦tilise [Smith鈥檚] expert capability and deep specialist knowledge to drive future profitable growth in the region鈥�.

Schemes Balfour Beatty is working on in the south include a 拢19m extension for Bristol university and a 拢170m upgrade of baggage handling facilities at Heathrow Airport.

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