Fossey's contracting background
Fossey spent nine years at specialist engineering contractor McGee, according to the Construction Enquirer. He joined as operations director in 2017 and became group managing director in 2019.
His time at McGee included helping to oversee a change in the contractor's scope. The business moved beyond its traditional demolition and groundworks subcontracting activities to provide a broader range of specialist engineering services. Its work covered demolition, piling, civils and structural services.
Before McGee, Fossey worked at Laing O’Rourke for more than 15 years. His career there took him through major project delivery positions before he became technical leader of the company's UK construction business.
Leadership arrangements
Fossey's remit at Permasteelisa will include leading its regional chief executives. Those executives cover Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, placing the company's regional leadership teams under his direction.
Peter Bacon will remain chairman but relinquish his executive responsibilities when Fossey arrives. He currently holds the executive chairman position. The appointment therefore changes Bacon's responsibilities as well as bringing in a new leader for the business.
Bacon said Fossey would bring strategic, commercial and technical skills to the role. He also cited Fossey's leadership, management and operational experience, alongside his approach to customer service, as reasons for the appointment.
A separate change concerns Liam Cummins, who previously served as Permasteelisa's group chief executive. Cummins will leave his deputy chairman position and take up a non-executive advisory director role.