Bucknall Austin, the construction and property consultant, has recruited Simon Birchall from Faithful & Gould to be its managing director.

Birchall, who was a director of F&G, will start his new role in January.

Bucknall Austin added that it was on the verge of appointing a corporate director to focus on staff recruitment, among other areas.

David Bucknall, the company鈥檚 chairman, said Birchall would 鈥渇it perfectly with where we鈥檙e heading as a business鈥�.

Bucknall Austin employs 300 people in eight offices across the UK. It was brought out of administration two years after a management buyout led by David Bucknall, its former owner.