Key senior appointments announced at Metnor Construction

Award-winning Metnor Construction Ltd has announced three senior appointments

Sean McNicholas has been appointed as head of operations, Matthew Thomas as design manager and Ken Fiksen as mechanical and electrical building services manager (all pictured below).

Sean joins after 11 years with Wilmott Dixon where he was operations manager and Matthew steps up from design coordinator, having joined Metnor Construction four years ago. Both Ken and Matthew also sit on the senior management team.

Metnor Construction Ltd, is one of four divisions within the Metnor Group. In 2018, it was listed in the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Growing Companies in the North of England. 2019 has seen further growth, with turnover for the year expected to exceed £80 million.

Sean, said: “I have worked in the construction industry for 22 years and have a wealth of experience under my belt, particularly in the leisure sector. I was ready for a fresh challenge and have known Chris Cant, Metnor Group CEO, personally for many years. I have great admiration for what he has achieved, in particular, the focus placed on culture and values – with people being at the heart of it.

“I felt the time was right to join Metnor Construction and I saw an opportunity to make an impact.  I am responsible for all of the operational side of the business, working closely with the pre-construction team.

“My aim is to continue strong growth not just in our North East heartland but across the UK.”

Matthew, said: “Being appointed as design manager and to also sit on the senior management team demonstrates the excellent progression paths that are within reach at Metnor Construction. With hard work and a real focus, the opportunities are there to develop your career.

“I am keen to pass on my own knowledge and to mentor younger members of the design team. If you invest in people you develop loyalty and stimulate a desire for ongoing progression. I am an example of this.

“I want to build a team of ambitious and driven individuals who, collectively, form a dynamic and supportive unit. To date, I have worked on a number of prestigious projects such as The Point at Canary Wharf, where we designed and coordinated the delivery of a project with a contract value of £20 million.

“To be part of the senior management team is a great achievement and on a monthly basis we discuss the business strategy and look at continual improvement. It is an opportunity for me to gain a deeper insight of the business and to assist my further development.”

The three appointments follow shortly after the announcement that the managing director of Metnor Construction, Chris Cant, had been made Group CEO and marketing and business development manager, Charlie Sander, was to be Group marketing manager.

Chris Cant, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sean to the team. He is the right fit for the role of head of operations at Metnor Construction and has ambition and knowledge to really grow the business. With his hunger to succeed, I have no doubt he will step up to the challenge.

“I am very proud of the progression paths that we have in place, we have worked hard to ensure we have the correct blend of experience and youth, so that fresh ideas can be supported and developed against tried and tested methods. Matthew is someone who has benefitted from this approach. He is committed and passionate and I am pleased he accepted the position as design manager.

“Likewise, Ken has the vision and experience to strengthen the mechanical and electrical building services division and is ideally placed to drive his team forward.

“The lifeblood to any business is its people and as well as creating progression paths and developing a mentoring structure, we have also brought in external experts to deliver employee workshops to inspire, engage and optimise our teams.”