Board of Directors
Executive Committee
John Dodds
Executive Chairman
John Dodds joined the Company as a non-executive director in October 2010 and became Chairman on 1st September 2011.
He retired in March 2010 from Kier Group plc, the construction and property services group, after serving for seven years as Group Chief Executive.
He worked for Kier, both in the UK and overseas, for nearly 40 years and held a main board position through the employee buy-out process in 1992 and the subsequent flotation of the group on the London Stock Exchange in 1996.
John is a non-executive director of Newbury Racecourse PLC and Lagan Construction Holdings Limited.
Executive Chairman
John Dodds joined the Company as a non-executive director in October 2010 and became Chairman on 1st September 2011.
He retired in March 2010 from Kier Group plc, the construction and property services group, after serving for seven years as Group Chief Executive.
He worked for Kier, both in the UK and overseas, for nearly 40 years and held a main board position through the employee buy-out process in 1992 and the subsequent flotation of the group on the London Stock Exchange in 1996.
John is a non-executive director of Newbury Racecourse PLC and Lagan Construction Holdings Limited.
Peter A Emerson
Chief Operating Officer
Peter Emerson has worked for the past 28 years in the Specialist Contracting Industry, initially in the concrete contracting sector.
He joined Rowen in 1984 as a quantity surveyor rising to Deputy Managing Director in 1996.
Peter was appointed Group Commercial Director in 1998 and in December 2001 he was appointed to the key role of Managing Director of Watson Steel Structures Ltd and also to Chief Operating Officer for the group in July 2007.
Chief Operating Officer
Peter Emerson has worked for the past 28 years in the Specialist Contracting Industry, initially in the concrete contracting sector.
He joined Rowen in 1984 as a quantity surveyor rising to Deputy Managing Director in 1996.
Peter was appointed Group Commercial Director in 1998 and in December 2001 he was appointed to the key role of Managing Director of Watson Steel Structures Ltd and also to Chief Operating Officer for the group in July 2007.
Alan Dunsmore
Finance Director
Alan Dunsmore joined the Company in March 2010 from Smiths Group Plc.
Alan joined Smiths Group Medical Division in 1995, holding various positions throughout the business and from 2004 was Director of Finance for Smiths Detection.
Prior to joining Smiths, he was with Coopers and Lybrand in Glasgow, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992.
Finance Director
Alan Dunsmore joined the Company in March 2010 from Smiths Group Plc.
Alan joined Smiths Group Medical Division in 1995, holding various positions throughout the business and from 2004 was Director of Finance for Smiths Detection.
Prior to joining Smiths, he was with Coopers and Lybrand in Glasgow, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992.
Derek Randall MBA, DBA
Executive Director
Business Development
Derek Randall was appointed Executive Director, Business Development in May 2008.
He is a Master of Business Administration (Warwick Business School), a Doctor of Business Administration (Nottingham Business School) and is the Visiting Professor of International Management and Development at Birmingham City University's Business School.
Before joining the Group, most of his career was with Corus Group (the steel company which is part of Tata) where his last position was as Commercial Director of Long Products Division, responsible for a sales portfolio of circa £5 billion.
Derek has held a number of international Board positions with Corus and served on the Executive Council of The Steel Construction Institute.
Executive Director
Business Development
Derek Randall was appointed Executive Director, Business Development in May 2008.
He is a Master of Business Administration (Warwick Business School), a Doctor of Business Administration (Nottingham Business School) and is the Visiting Professor of International Management and Development at Birmingham City University's Business School.
Before joining the Group, most of his career was with Corus Group (the steel company which is part of Tata) where his last position was as Commercial Director of Long Products Division, responsible for a sales portfolio of circa £5 billion.
Derek has held a number of international Board positions with Corus and served on the Executive Council of The Steel Construction Institute.
Ian R S Cochrane
Group Operations Director
Ian Cochrane joined the Group in 2007, following the acquisition of Fisher Engineering.
Ian has worked at Fisher Engineering for 21 years, starting in the drawing office and progressing to Project Management.
In January 2004, he was appointed Project Director and in October 2007, Managing Director.
2013 saw Ian appointed to Group Operations Director.
Ian has a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business and has been involved in many major projects in the UK and Ireland, representing a range of market sectors.
Group Operations Director
Ian Cochrane joined the Group in 2007, following the acquisition of Fisher Engineering.
Ian has worked at Fisher Engineering for 21 years, starting in the drawing office and progressing to Project Management.
In January 2004, he was appointed Project Director and in October 2007, Managing Director.
2013 saw Ian appointed to Group Operations Director.
Ian has a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business and has been involved in many major projects in the UK and Ireland, representing a range of market sectors.
Nigel Pickard
Managing Director
Atlas Ward Structures
Nigel Pickard joined the Group in 2005 following the acquisition of Atlas Ward Structures.
He has 28 years’ experience in the structural steel industry, working both in the UK and overseas markets.
In 2000, Nigel was appointed Operations Director of Atlas Ward where he took full responsibility for production.
Appointed as Managing Director in October 2002, Nigel transformed Atlas Ward’s business, turning its substantial losses to profit and laid the foundations for further development in the future.
Managing Director
Atlas Ward Structures
Nigel Pickard joined the Group in 2005 following the acquisition of Atlas Ward Structures.
He has 28 years’ experience in the structural steel industry, working both in the UK and overseas markets.
In 2000, Nigel was appointed Operations Director of Atlas Ward where he took full responsibility for production.
Appointed as Managing Director in October 2002, Nigel transformed Atlas Ward’s business, turning its substantial losses to profit and laid the foundations for further development in the future.
Brian Keys
Managing Director
Fisher Engineering
Brian Keys joined Fisher Engineering Ltd in 1986 as Production Manager, moving to Project Management in 2001 for a period 6 years.
Just prior to the acquisition of Fisher Engineering in 2007 Brian became Production Director, a role which he performed until his appointment as Managing Director in March 2013.
Brian has been involved in the successful delivery of many major projects throughout Ireland and the UK during his 27 year career in Fisher Engineering.
Managing Director
Fisher Engineering
Brian Keys joined Fisher Engineering Ltd in 1986 as Production Manager, moving to Project Management in 2001 for a period 6 years.
Just prior to the acquisition of Fisher Engineering in 2007 Brian became Production Director, a role which he performed until his appointment as Managing Director in March 2013.
Brian has been involved in the successful delivery of many major projects throughout Ireland and the UK during his 27 year career in Fisher Engineering.
Steven Day
Executive Director
Severfield-Watson Structures
Steven Day joined the Group in 2002 as Commercial Director of Watson Steel, following the acquisition of Tubemasters, a business which he built and ran for 18 years.
Steven was appointed Managing Director of Watson's in January 2012, responsible for operations.
With over 35 years of experience in the structural steelwork market at all levels, he has considerable knowledge of the Industry.
Executive Director
Severfield-Watson Structures
Steven Day joined the Group in 2002 as Commercial Director of Watson Steel, following the acquisition of Tubemasters, a business which he built and ran for 18 years.
Steven was appointed Managing Director of Watson's in January 2012, responsible for operations.
With over 35 years of experience in the structural steelwork market at all levels, he has considerable knowledge of the Industry.
David Larter
Group Director
Business Sustainability
David Larter joined the Group in 2010 as Group Director – Business Sustainability.
David has worked in the construction industry for 28 years and has held senior management and corporate strategic positions in international contracting and design consultancy businesses.
He brings a wealth of experience in design, build-ability and construction techniques on international major projects across a diverse range of sectors.
Group Director
Business Sustainability
David Larter joined the Group in 2010 as Group Director – Business Sustainability.
David has worked in the construction industry for 28 years and has held senior management and corporate strategic positions in international contracting and design consultancy businesses.
He brings a wealth of experience in design, build-ability and construction techniques on international major projects across a diverse range of sectors.
