Mark Reynolds is stepping down as chief executive of Mace after more than 12 years at the helm, amid a massive governance shake-up at the tier one contractor.
Reynolds, co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), joined the firm as chief executive in 2012 after serving as programme director for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He took on the firm’s chairmanship in 2022.
He will remain as chairman, with group deputy chief executive and Mace Consult chief executive officer Jason Millett stepping up in July to take over the chief executive hotseat.
In a statement, Reynolds said: “Mace is now a truly global force; and our success over the past few years securing some of the world’s largest programmes reflects that.
“With scale comes responsibility, and we must ensure we are governed effectively. These long-planned succession changes are a part of that process.”
Reynolds will continue in his co-chair role at the CLC.
A statement from the firm said that Reynolds and Millett would work together over the next six months to manage the transition, establishing major new governance structures as the firm moves to adopt the UK Corporate Governance Code.
This reorganisation will also see Mace appoint new chief executives for its consulting and construction arms.
Mace Construct chief executive Gareth Lewis will step down in July, and will be replaced by current chief operating officer Andrew Jackson.
Meanwhile, Davendra Dabasia will move up from her current chief operating officer role at Mace Consult to head that division, replacing incumbent Millett.
Mace said the changes at Mace Consult are aimed at growing revenue to more than £1.2bn by 2030, driven by overseas work.
The firm will also appoint four non-executive directors to a new group board from January 2025:
- Dame Alison Nimmo, previously chief executive at the Crown Estate.
- Nina Bjornstad, who has worked in senior roles at big tech firms including Google and Microsoft.
- Eric Hageman, chief financial officer of Swedish telecommunications company Telia.
- John Coghlan, currently a director of serviced office firm Landmark.
All four will join Reynolds, Millett and Mace chief financial officer David Allen on the new group board, while the current board will remain as the group executive committee.
