The change means two top jobs in Laing O鈥橰ourke UK combined into one

The head of Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 southern England and Wales construction business has been moved to lead human resources at the contractor, as the firm slims down its management.

The move, which is a further part of the senior management reshuffle revealed by 好色先生TV last week, will mean Mark Richardson takes up the vacant role of human resources director for the firm鈥檚 Europe Hub. He had been business unit leader for construction South and Wales.

The changes, confirmed by a company spokesperson, effectively sees the two top jobs in Laing O鈥橰ourke UK combined into one, with the former North and Scotland director Callum Tuckett put in charge of the UK mainland.

The spokesperson said the human resources role became vacant last year after former HR director Jane Falconer left 鈥渙f her own accord鈥. However, a source close to the company said the departure followed a shake-up in the HR division last year.

The appointment of Tuckett, who came through Laing O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 鈥淵oung Guns鈥 fast-track management training programme, comes amidst speculation that he is being groomed as a potential chief executive of the business. The same source said: 鈥淐allum is a very very talented individual and a potential future CEO.鈥

Laing O鈥橰ourke has yet to put in place a clear succession plan for when chairman and chief executive Ray O鈥橰ourke retires, following the departure of chief operating officer Tony Douglas in 2009, who had up till then been set to take the top job.