Documents filed at Companies House revealed that Mr Pitt, who had been with the business since May 2015, stepped down as a director yesterday.

Before joining McAlpine, he spent 17 years as the group commercial director at Morgan Sindall.

A spokesman for Sir Robert McAlpine said: “Martin Pitt has decided it’s time for him to move on from Sir Robert McAlpine in order to pursue new challenges and opportunities.

“Martin has stepped down with immediate effect as commercial director. Leighton More, chief financial officer will assume responsibility for all commercial matters whilst the business reviews its needs in line with our five-year strategic objectives.”