Contractor appoints David Sutton head of UK design, engineering and project management division

Bovis Lend Lease has completed the restructuring of its business, which it began earlier this month, by appointing a head of UK projects.

David Sutton takes over as managing director of projects. He replaces Phil Wade who was promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer.

Sutton already worked within the projects business for Wade and will continue to report to him as chief operation officer.

Sutton is a qualified architect and urban designer who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years, first in development and then in design and construction.

He joined Bovis in 1998 when it bought Tanvec, the company he was working for. This was an engineering and company that worked specifically for pharmaceutical companies.

The projects business combines in-house design and engineering with . It is focused on nine sectors - arts and leisure, communities and regeneration, education and healthcare, government, offices, retail, technology, telecoms and transport.

Sutton takes over the role during a period of wider change at Bovis. Millett's restructuring of the business followed a 拢14m writedown on two problem contracts, although a Bovis source said the two were not directly linked.

The projects business is one of the six core business streams within the newly restructured company. It sits alongside the newly created retail business, the PFI/PPP division, defence and accommodation, strategic clients, and the regions. The projects business services external clients but also the other five internal business streams.

Previously Bovis was divided into a north and south division.

Sutton this week said that he wanted to continue Wade's work. "By further drawing on our in depth knowledge of our key market sectors, our vision is to become the UK market leader in construction consultancy," he said.

Millett has created a retail division because he anticipates a growth in commercial workload.

Pre-tax profit for the first half of Bovis' financial year, announced in February, fell 50% to 拢16m. It made a 拢14m provision against the 拢400m BBC Broadcasting House scheme in London and the 拢80m Bridgewater Place scheme in Leeds.