Eoghan joins the company on 20 February 2023, from his previous role as chief executive at FTSE-listed marine services company James Fisher and Sons plc. He will sit on the Wates Group board.

Previously he has held executive roles at Spectris plc, Danaher Corporation, Philips and Mitsui Kinzoku.

Chairman Sir James Wates CBE said: “Eoghan is a globally accomplished, motivational leader with an impressive track record in industry and we’re very pleased to be welcoming him to Wates. We’re excited to appoint Eoghan to lead us into the next stage of our history.

“At the same time, on behalf of the Board, I’d like to pay tribute to Philip Wainwright for the great job he has done as Interim Chief Executive over the past six months. He hands over a business which is in terrific shape, and with him working as Chief Financial Officer alongside Eoghan, we are confident of the Group’s continuing stability and success.”

Eoghan O’Lionaird added: “I’m delighted to be joining Wates and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone.

“What marks Wates out from the competition is how it has rallied its people around a purpose greater than profit alone. This is clear from its commitment to making the built environment more sustainable. I’m looking forward to contributing to the Group’s strategy and marshalling the resources needed to achieve its ambitions.”

Eoghan, who will be based in the firm’s headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey, is taking over from interim chief executive Philip Wainwright who has been in the post since the summer of 2022. Philip is returning as planned to his role as chief financial officer.

Eoghan O’Lionaird was born in Cork and holds degrees in engineering from the University College Cork, and the University of Limerick, and an MBA from the Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.