Ray O’Rourke is set to step down as group chief executive of Laing O’Rourke, passing the leadership of the company he founded in 1977 to his son, Cathal O’Rourke, at the start of next month. Reports Construction Journal
After five decades at the helm, Ray O’Rourke has confirmed the long-anticipated succession plan. He and his brother Des O’Rourke will continue to serve on the group board of the UK’s largest private contractor as deputy chairs.
This transition follows civil engineer Cathal O’Rourke’s return to the UK last year to assume the role of chief operating officer, after nearly a decade leading the firm’s operations in Australia.
The group announced today that its board had unanimously approved the appointment of 47-year-old Cathal as the new group chief executive, effective from 1 July, describing the move as a significant milestone for the company.“key transitional milestone for Laing O’Rourke as the business moves from a founder-led organisation into the next generation of leadership”.
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