SES Engineering Services, part of the Wates Group, has named Rob Clifford managing director as part of a major shake-up that will see the creation of four targeted divisions.
Clifford, previously managing director of the group’s integrated construction services business, will head up two new geographical divisions focusing on the north and south of the UK and a further two units leading on major projects and specialist services.
The firm said the new structure would allow it to become more agile and innovative while continuing to grow its order book across the UK.
The reorganisation will see Steve Joyce become regional managing director for SES North, which includes Scotland, the North East and North West of England and the Midlands.
Meanwhile, Daniel Bavington, currently business director for SES in London and the South East, will head the new southern division, covering London, the South East, South West and northern home counties.
Rob Doherty will move from his current role as operations director for the North West to become director of the new major projects division, while John Groom, currently director of building services at Wates, has been appointed director of SES Specialist Services, which includes the group’s dedicated offsite manufacturing facility in Coventry.
Paul Chandler, executive managing director of Wates Construction Group, said the new structure would make SES more productive while improving its offer to customers.
“This is an evolution of our existing business that will enable us to increase productivity, improve collaboration and offer customers an integrated services approach with local and specialist expertise,” he said.
Wates Group chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird added that the reorganisation would put SES on a sustainable footing.
“It allows us to be ambitious when looking ahead to future growth and to invest more in new technologies, employee development and sustainable solutions,” he said.
Last year Wates and SES were confirmed as the contractors for a £450m project to build Envision AESC’s electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Sunderland.
Wates has also landed key roles in the delivery of Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena and the new Life and Mind Building for Oxford University.
Its most recent financial results show that Wates made a pre-tax profit of £33.7m in 2022 – down slightly on the previous year – from a record turnover of £1.9bn.