JF Finnegan chairman announces retirement
THE chairman of JF Finnegan has announced his retirement after 50 years of service at the Yorkshire-based contractor and developer.
Philip Hollister joined the Sheffield-based firm in 1963 as a school-leaver and worked his way up to the role of commercial director before taking the helm from long-standing colleague and outgoing chairman Philip Ryan in 2010.
Mr Hollister promoted Gary Smith to the newly created role of managing director in 2012 and Mr Smith will retain this role, driving the business forward.
During his time at JF Finnegan, Mr Hollister has been involved with some of the company’s most notable projects including Sheffield Parkway Business Park, Commercial Street offices, Wards Exchange and Butcher Works.
Mr Hollister has also led the delivery of some of the firm’s most iconic schemes such as the award-winning Charles St Q-Park ‘Cheesegrater’ and the innovative, highly sustainable Sheffield City College.
The announcement comes shortly after JF Finnegan revealed its successful financial results which saw turnover boosted by 35% to £34.2m for the year ending September 2013. Major projects such as the completion of a sleeper factory in Doncaster for Network Rail, new stores for Costco and a 151,716 sq ft letting to Royal Mail at Magna 34 in Rotherham all contributed to the firm’s successful year.
The firm said the recent sale of the Elizabeth House office scheme in Leeds got 2014 off to a strong start.
Mr Hollister said: “Having spent my entire working life at JF Finnegan, it hasn’t been an easy decision to step down but we have been preparing the business for some time now and I am confident that the team is ready to enter a new phase under Gary’s capable leadership. I’m incredibly proud of everything that JF Finnegan has achieved and whilst my time as Chairman coincided with one of the most challenging economic climates on record, our recent results demonstrate how well we have weathered the storm.
“We employed a new strategy of diversification in the late 1990’s, identifying that a varied portfolio of work in both our contractual and developmental projects would enable us to ride out the inevitable peaks and troughs which different sectors experience. This approach still remains key as opportunities emerge from the recession and those who are poised and ready to capitalise on them will flourish. What stands JF Finnegan in such good stead is its ability to adapt to the changing market whilst retaining its ethos for quality, reliability and deliverability. The retention of existing clients and quest for identifying new sectors has ensured the firm’s long-term success along with its staff who are all multi-functional, highly trained and much sought-after within the industry.
“Whilst JF Finnegan works all over the country, the heart of the company is in Sheffield and as recovery within the property market is being readily acknowledged, South Yorkshire is uniquely placed to capitalise on this. There is a real drive among those working in the sector to ensure its success and the region benefits from key factors such as excellent connectivity, great resources with its power supply, lots of land opportunities, the Advanced Manufacturing Park which is a coup for the region and a superbly skilled workforce.”
He added: “It has been an honour to be part of the delivery of some of the region’s most exciting regeneration work and to have worked with such fantastic people both within the company and externally across the whole region and industry. I look forward to watching the company flourish as it continues to serve the industry, true to its core values.”
