People: Deeley Construction; Centrick; RSC

A Midlands construction company has announced the promotion of two former trainees to director- level positions.

Matthew Lynch and Chris Newman, who have both been with the company for more than a decade, have been promoted to Director roles at Coventry headquartered Deeley Construction.

Lynch, 35 from Coventry, joined the company 17 years ago as a management trainee, rising through the ranks as a quantity surveyor to Commercial Manager in 2019 and has now been appointed as Commercial Director.

He said: “I’ve grown and developed within Deeley Construction professionally and personally since joining as a teenager. Having been with the business for so long, to be given the trust to help shape its future is both an honour and a privilege.

“We have made great progress over the last three years in improving our processes, supply chain management alongside an emphasis on Clients for repeat business and now we are focused on reaping the benefits of that work to bring long-term and continuous growth to the business.”

Newman, 37 from Coventry, joined Deeley Construction in 2013 as a trainee manager. He has been Operations Manager at the business since June 2021, taking a lead role in driving Lean Construction principles, and now takes on the position as Operations Director.

“I’ve had some great opportunities since joining Deeley Construction and it’s a privilege to take this step forward,” said Newman. “We’re proud of the work we have done within the business since the pandemic and that effort is now achieving positive outputs across all of our projects, whilst making us more resilient in the industry.

“The challenges I have faced in my career to date will stand me in good stead for this new role and my focus shall remain on, continuous improvement throughout the business.”

Deeley Construction is the contracting arm of the Deeley Group. The Deeley Group was founded in 1936 and has a history of developing staff from trainee to director level.

Martin Gallagher, managing director of Deeley Construction, said: “Supporting our staff to develop has always been a core value of the Deeley Group, and we are proud to see two people who started as trainees with the business progress to this level.

“Both Chris and Matt have completed degrees during their time with us and have developed into individuals who will be vital to the future of the business.

“I would like to congratulate them both and look forward to working with them closely as we move into what is set to be an incredibly exciting period for Deeley Construction.”

Property specialist Centrick has appointed Charles Lucas as group business development director to help drive the company’s ambitious national growth strategy.

Charles, who has 37 years’ experience in the property sector, has worked on some of the UK’s largest new build developments and managed schemes with high profile clients including Argent, Berkeley, Bellway, Urban Splash, Clarion, Annington, Barratt, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey.

Centrick, which was established in 2005, specialises in building and estate management, build to rent, PRS asset management, professional service and valuation in addition to land, new homes and investment services.

Charles said: “Joining Centrick at this time in the company’s strategic development is enormously exciting and I hope to add extra impetus to its upward trajectory, strengthening our focus on communication and working closely to grow the service proposition in line with the challenges our clients face every day. It really is a fantastic business full of great people including an exceptional management team and I fully expect to see its national presence grow significantly year on year.”

Phil Johns, group managing director of Centrick, said: “I am very excited to welcome Charles to the Centrick team. He has enormous experience across the property sector and, as our group business development director, he will play a key role in Centrick’s strategic growth with a keen focus on our recognised specialisms.

“Our ambition as a group has always been to deliver a truly exceptional service, building a team of highly skilled property professionals that genuinely care about our clients and the residents we support. The arrival of Charles clearly demonstrates that commitment is stronger than ever.”

Charles, who has been a RICS Fellow (FRICS) since 2011, brings significant experience across commercial, residential and mixed-use property. He joined Mainstay in 2001 as new business development manager and became technical director in 2005. On acquisition by FirstPort in September 2020, he became business development director.

Lightroom Portraits

The board of the Royal Shakespeare Company has announced the appointment of Andrew Leveson as Executive Director, working alongside Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans. Leveson joins the company from the Bridge Theatre (London Theatre Company), where he has been an essential part of the company’s growth since its foundation and is now Director of Finance and Administration. He takes up his role at the RSC at the end of April this year.

Andrew Leveson said: “It is such an honour to be appointed as Executive Director of the RSC. I have been enthralled by RSC productions since my teens and to have the opportunity now to play a key part in leading the next stage of the company’s history with Daniel and Tamara is an incredible privilege and responsibility – humbling and immensely exciting.

“There is a wealth of talent, capacity and experience within the organisation and such potential through the breadth of its work to inspire and transform people’s lives – on stage, online, in the classroom and across the world. I can’t wait to get started.”

Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans said: “We’re truly delighted that Andrew will join us as the new Executive Director at the RSC. We are inspired by his ambitions for the company, as well as his deep love of theatre. The vast experience and knowledge he has gained as an integral part of the team at the Bridge Theatre will be vital as we begin this new chapter at the RSC.”

Chair of the Board, Shriti Vadera, added, “In Andrew, we have found an Executive Director not only with an understanding of the theatre world, but also a flair for innovation. His experience in the commercial and legal sector will prove invaluable in realising the artistic vision of Daniel and Tamara as they embark on their first season. This period heralds an exciting new direction for the RSC, as Andrew joins Daniel and Tamara at the helm of the company – their combined talents promise a vibrant future.”

Andrew Leveson joined London Theatre Company/the Bridge Theatre in 2015 as General Manager before becoming Director of Finance and Administration, working across all the company’s output since the theatre opened in 2017, and overseeing the growth of the organisation from a start-up to its current incarnation with almost 300 employees. He also created the business model and financial plan for Lightroom, which opened last year with the exhibition David Hockney: Bigger and Closer.

Prior to this, he worked as a corporate lawyer at two leading international law firms and previously as a freelance theatre director and producer. He has been on the Board of the theatre company 1927 since 2018 and was previously on the Board of the Birmingham Opera Company.