Alan Robertson, chief executive officer (CEO) of VolkerWessels UK, is to step down from his role and take up a new position as chairman of the business. Richard Offord, the company’s chief operating officer and managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick, has been named as the new CEO. The handover will take effect on 1 August 2022.
Robertson joined VolkerWessels UK in 2008, leading the development and growth of the group, which employs 3,600 staff across five businesses: VolkerFitzpatrick, VolkerRail, VolkerStevin, VolkerHighways, and VolkerLaser.
Under his leadership, revenue has grown from £576 million in 2009 to £1.082 billion in 2020, and he has implemented robust management and governance structures, reinforced a strong safety culture and spearheaded programmes to promote sustainability, social value, EDI, and digital construction and innovation.
“It has been an absolute privilege to head up a strong, robust and successful business for the past 14 years,” said Robertson. “I am proud to say that VolkerWessels UK has gone from strength to strength – not least, weathering the challenges of the pandemic over the last couple of years. I am hugely proud of our people and teams working across the business, in all roles and at all levels, whom I believe are second to none in our sector.
“It is a pleasure to be able to hand over to a colleague who is already well-known and respected, both within our own business and the industry as a whole.”
Richard Offord joined the former Fitzpatrick as an engineer in 1990 before progressing through a variety of roles, becoming a member of the VolkerWessels UK board, and heading up the group’s operations board.
He said: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to head up the remarkable VolkerWessels UK business, and to be able to continue the excellent work of Alan and our teams across the group. Alan and I have worked closely together for the past 14 years, and in particular for the past year, since I took on the role of chief operating officer. I look forward to leading the business into the future, delivering ongoing excellence for all of our clients, and providing a safe, secure and forward-thinking business which values its people and indeed, all of our stakeholder relationships.”
Photo credit: VolkerWessels UK
