Wates Group CEO David Allen is stepping down after four years in the role, announces Chairman Sir James Wates CBE
David Allen joined the company in January 2016 and has been Wates Group CEO since April 2018.
The Board of the Wates Group has initiated the process to identify a new CEO, and further information will be announced in due course.
Wates Group has committed to increasing the proportion of women at all levels of the business, broadening their ethnic diversity and encouraging those with disabilities into the sector and have been ranked in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women in 2022.
Philip Wainwright, chief financial officer, will become interim CEO until a permanent successor is appointed 
Formerly group finance director at Willmott Dixon, Mr. Wainwright joined Wates as chief financial officer in December 2018 and currently sits on both the Group Board and the Executive Committee.
He has a degree in mechanical engineering and over 20 years of experience in the construction industry in both senior financial and operational roles, including at Byrne Group, Laing O’Rourke, Biwater Plc, National Grid and ED&F Man.
Sir James Wates said:
“During his time as our CEO, David’s intelligence, commitment, and compassion has stood the organisation in good stead and in particular ensured that the Wates Group successfully responded to the challenges of the pandemic. The Board thanks David for his contributions and wishes him the very best for the future.”
“We have an outstanding management team in place, and we have the right long-term strategy – both to take advantage of market opportunities as well as to meet our objective of handing over to the next generation of family ownership a stronger, more sustainable enterprise.”
