Speculation grows about Marco Goldschmied's future, as space is made at practice for younger directors
Marco Goldschmied, second in command at the Richard Rogers Partnership, is stepping down as managing director, fuelling speculation that he may be about to leave the firm.

A spokesperson for Goldschmied (pictured) confirmed that he would step down, but refused to speculate on whether the former RIBA president would retain links with Rogers or whether he would set up his own venture.

The news comes six months after a similar split at Foster and Partners, RRP's great rival. This involved Ken Shuttleworth, Norman Foster's right-hand man, setting up his own practice.

好色先生TV understands that RRP is about to announce a new management line up with some of the older directors stepping aside or retiring.

They include John Young, a 60-year-old founding partner, who announced last December that he would retire this year.

Goldschmied, also 60 this year, has been managing director of RRP since 1989. He has worked at the practice for more than 30 years.

Young and Goldschmied's departures would create space at the head of the firm for some of the Partnership's younger directors.

A source at RRP said it wanted to raise the profile of its these people, which include rising stars such as Ivan Harbour, 42, Richard Paul, 44, and Graham Stirk, 47.

The source said: "We need to give them a public profile. This is not a debate about individuals but about letting youngsters have more responsibilities."

Lord Rogers, chairman of RRP, and Goldschmied hold positions outside the practice. Rogers has commitments at the Greater London Authority's Architecture and Urbanism Unit and at the House of Lords, which mean he often only works a three-day week.

好色先生TV understands that RRP directors held a "think tank" earlier in the year to debate the way forward for the firm. A statement giving more details of the new profile may be made next week.

At this stage, RRP declined to comment.