The football transfer market might have slowed with the World Cup – but that didn’t stop big names making moves in the East of England construction industry in recent months. Here’s our rundown of some of the Movers and Shakers you might have missed in the second quarter of 2026.
Allisons Homes appoints new CEO
Peterborough-based housebuilder Allison Homes announced its current CEO John Anderson will move to a non-executive position in the company from September.
Iain McPherson, UK MD at national outfit Persimmon Homes has been announced as his successor – bringing with him more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.
Allison Homes chair, Rob Roger, said: “Under John’s leadership we have successfully transformed Allison into a highly regarded multi-region business, trusted by customers, partners and employees alike.
“John was firmly of the view that for the good of the business and for the continued success it was essential that we ensure the board establish a robust succession plan.
“We’re delighted to have secured Iain’s services – he is just the type of leader to drive the next step in our growth strategy. It’s a great testament to what has already been achieved that someone of his calibre is making his future with us.”
Housebuilder names new Finance Director
It’s not just at CEO level where Allison Homes has announced changes this quarter – with the firm having also named its new Finance Director in May.
Alex Mayhew has taken the reins at the housebuilder’s finance department, having first joined the business in 2022.
Speaking after his appointment, Alex said he foresees major growth in the sector should affordability pressures ease.
He added: “On a personal level, this promotion means a great deal – it’s something I have always worked towards.
“Achieving it makes the years of hard work, particularly the time spent gaining my CIMA qualification, feel incredibly worthwhile.”
READ MORE: The Movers and Shakers from Winter 2026
Castons promotes four new associates
Multi-award-winning Ipswich chartered surveyors Castons promoted four of its staff to Associate in May.
Adam Fuller, Shah Hussain, Brad Hines and Mark Smith all received promotions in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the business.
The four have spent more than two decades combined at the business, with both Brad and Adam also working as mentors and RICS counsellors to support trainees.
Director Tim Tompkins said: “We are delighted to promote Adam, Shah, Brad and Mark to Associate, they have all excelled since joining Castons.
“Each one of them has shown their ability and dedication to their work, making a big impact in the company.”
Experienced Supply Chain Manager earns promotion
A 10-year veteran of Ipswich contractor SEH French has earned a promotion to Procurement and Office Manager.
Liam Bowsworth has spent the last decade working at the firm as Supply Chain Manager and will now have an even greater impact on the business in his new role.
The promotion will see him play a key part in driving efficiencies, supporting its teams and strengthening its operations.
Simon Girling, Director of SEH French, said: “Liam has been a great asset to our business since he first joined us in 2016.
“This promotion reflects the hard work he has put in since day one – helping us improve and create new relationships with our clients and suppliers.
“We look forward to seeing Liam continue to grow and thrive in his new position.”
READ MORE: The Movers and Shakers from late 2025
Contractor welcomes new Site Manager
SEH French also welcomed a new face in June with the appointment of new Site Manager, Fabien Burnett.
Fabien has spent more than a decade managing sites across the East of England with two other regional contractors – and boasts a strong track record of delivering multi-million-pound projects.
Simon Hubert, Contracts Director at SEH French, said: “We are delighted to welcome Fabien to the team.
“Not only is he an experienced and very well regarded Site Manager, his record of working on high-profile and lucrative projects can only benefit us here at SEH French as we continue to grow.
“We have no doubt he will prove a great addition to the business.”
Former Commercial Manager flies solo with new business
The former Commercial Manager of one of the UK’s biggest master developers has left the business to launch his own company.
Scott Edwards departed Urban&Civic in May to open his new business BuildAlliance – a consultancy supporting growing businesses to plan and deliver development projects.
Scott said he aims to “close the gap” often experienced by construction firms who lack the support of experienced developers on big projects.
He added: “When a business goes through a growth cycle and takes on a new site, what they want most is certainty on cost, programme and quality.
“Unpredictable costs kill ambition and stall growth. That’s what I started BuildAlliance to fix.
“It gives businesses a strategic partner on their side of the table, so clients with real ambition for what they want to build don’t just aim high. They get there.”
Engineer on a mission to rethink utilities delivery
An experienced engineer is aiming to rethink the way utilities are baked into construction projects as part of her new role.
Leanne Butler left UK Power Networks in June to become self-employed before joining Bedfordshire-based Unify Utilities as a Utilities Deliveries Manager & Consultant – and is now supporting projects across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Her role sees her act as a single point of contact across all four utility sectors from application stage through to live connection.
Leanne said: “After years surveying and designing networks at UKPN, I knew exactly how much of a difference it makes when utilities are planned properly from the start.
“Everyone talks about the build, but hardly anyone talks about the utilities underneath it – until they go wrong! Taking the leap to go self-employed in June and help sites get this right has been a great move and I’m excited to develop connections with clients who have someone they can trust and can consistently deliver exactly what they need when it comes to utilities.”
Movers and Shakers is a feature series brought to you by Construction Anglia every quarter. If you have a story you would like to share for our next instalment of Movers and Shakers, send in your submissions to news@constructionanglia.com.
