Wates appoints former Mace director as chief commercial officer

Wates has appointed former Mace director Pat Fitzgerald as its new chief commercial officer.

Fitzgerald will join the company on 1 September, succeeding Simon Potter, who retired in April after 36 years at the business. Chris Symeonides is acting as interim until Fitzgerald formally takes over.

A chartered quantity surveyor with more than three decades of experience in commercial and operational management, Fitzgerald previously led Mace’s private-sector construction business with an annual turnover of £800m. He also held senior roles at Lendlease.

His project portfolio includes the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre in Cambridge, and the Battersea Power Station redevelopment.

At Wates, Fitzgerald will lead commercial strategy across its UK divisions. His remit includes overseeing the commercial, legal and building safety teams and aligning strategy with the group’s long-term objectives.

Wates chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird said Fitzgerald’s experience in delivering large-scale projects and shaping commercial models in multi-divisional firms “aligns perfectly” with the group’s goals.

Fitzgerald said he was “thrilled” to join Wates at what he described as an “exciting time” for the company.

Source: Wates press release