UK director of Japanese contracting giant cites personal reasons 鈥� not 拢2m pre-tax losses 鈥� for stepping down

The managing director of the UK arm of Japanese contractor Kajima has resigned after heading the 拢100m turnover firm for five years.

Dick Barker, who joined the group in the mid-1990s from contractor Morrison, handed in his notice late last month, but will be staying on as an executive adviser in a part-time capacity.

Barker鈥檚 position will be temporarily taken by Masa Tomita, the deputy chairman of Kajima Europe. Tomita is expected to fill the post for about a year before handing over to one of the four British directors on the firm鈥檚 European board.

Barker, aged 51, said his resignation was largely for personal reasons. He said: 鈥淚 need to make some personal changes. I have been living in London during the week and travelling to Yorkshire on the weekends. I want to spend more time with my teenage children.

鈥淚 also thought it was an appropriate time to step down. There are a lot of good people in place and lots of opportunities. I wanted to do what I could to make the transition as smooth as possible, which is why I鈥檓 staying on as an adviser.鈥�

Barker stressed the company was in a much stronger position since he took over in 1999, despite posting pre-tax losses of 拢2m in 2003. The firm was sued last year by developer Chelworth Holdings over a 拢46m office scheme in central London, and was also called in to rectify defects at a prefabricated housing project for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in Leeds earlier this year.

Barker admitted some troubles but defended the firm. He said: 鈥淭here have been some problems and upsets but I think I have built solid foundations. You have to look at Kajima as a global entity rather than just locally.鈥�

Since Barker took over, the firm has carved a niche in the PFI sector, winning schools work in North Tyneside and Camden and Ealing in London, as well as a headquarters for the Health and Safety Executive in Liverpool.