Consultant Capita Symonds has replaced Richard Marchant as managing director after rapid growth at the firm.

Bill Dye is taking over the post. He will also retain his role as executive director of the business services division at parent firm Capita Group.

Dye joined Capita, a FTSE 100 support services company, in 2002 and was appointed to the executive board in 2005.

The change was sparked by two years of expansion at Capita Symonds. Under Marchant鈥檚 leadership, it grew from a 拢90m business with 1500 employees to a 3500-strong consultancy with turnover of 拢200m.

After four years at Capita Symonds, Marchant is to move to Capita Group where he will be business development director.

He will be responsible for securing big deals in the public sector but will retain close links with Capita Symonds through continued involvement in public鈥損rivate partnerships and joint ventures.

Capita Symonds鈥 acquisitions spree began in June 2004, with the purchase of architect Percy Thomas. It went on to buy architect Norman & Dawbarn, Buchanan Consulting and architect Church Lukas. Its most recent acquisition was Ruddle Wilkinson in May.

After two years of expansion, staff said they were expecting some sort of restructuring. Capita Symonds staff were called to a meeting in Cardiff last Friday to be told that Dye would take over as managing director.

A source said he was surprised that the announcement was not about another buyout. 鈥淚 thought they would be telling us about yet another acquisition.鈥

A spokesperson for Capita said: 鈥淏ill Dye has been a senior figure at Capita since 2002 and has gained a deep understanding of Capita Symonds, so from a continuity perspective it is a logical move.

鈥淎lso, Capita Symonds sits within business services so he is very familiar with the business.鈥