Nick Pollard sets out priorities after departure of Murray Coleman, as market shrinks, redundancies loom and search begins for income streams

Nick Pollard, the new chief executive of Bovis Lend Lease, will make repositioning the business to cope with worsening market conditions his priority.

Speaking after the company confirmed that he would replace Murray Coleman as company boss, as revealed in 好色先生TV last week, Pollard said he would review the company鈥檚 scope of work, its size and its structure.

He said: 鈥淭here are undoubtedly some tough times ahead. Our job is to make sure that the business is properly positioned so that we make the most of our workload and that we play to our strengths.鈥�

One immediate change to the structure is that Pollard will not recruit a chief operating officer to replace himself. Instead, he will directly oversee the business鈥� three regional operations, South, North and Scotland.

Coleman exerted a similar level of control when he was flown in from Australia to take over the Bovis hotseat in July 2006.

We will treat people with respect and fight tooth, nail and claw to keep them

Nick Pollard

Pollard, 50, will also retain his seat on the Lend Lease panel overseeing the construction of the 拢1bn athlete鈥檚 village for the 2012 Olympics. This will give him direct influence over the business鈥� involvement in the project.

Pollard said that it was 鈥渁n inevitable consequence of the current market that there will be a level of redundancy鈥�. Although he would not comment on specific figures, it is understood that about 230 people were put on notice of possible redundancy; about 130 of them have been redeployed within the firm.

Pollard said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a pleasant task, but it is essential. Over the next few months we will engage in proper consultation with staff, and ensure we properly shape the business for the future, while treating people with respect. We will fight tooth, nail and claw to keep people.鈥�

He also said the firm would consider widening its scope of business. The firm鈥檚 commercial business in the South has been particularly hit, as it does much of its work for a small group of developers including Stanhope and Land Securities, which have been hit by the credit crunch.

Pollard said: 鈥淚s it possible to extend the type of work we do? Yes, of course, but it needs to be done in the proper manner.鈥�

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