4 October 2024
New MD for Robertson Construction North East
Experienced commercial director Neil Kennedy has been appointed regional managing director for the North East arm of Robertson Construction.
Neil has been with the company for over 15 years, and his promotion comes following the retirement of Garry Hope who has been the managing director of Robertson Construction North East since 2016.
In his new role, Neil will hold overall responsibility for the North East construction business. This includes the management and overseeing of preconstruction, construction, and aftercare on all projects.
Neil studied quantity surveying at Northumbria University in the late 1990s and worked for a number of construction companies around Gateshead, progressing from Graduate Quantity Surveyor to Managing Surveyor.
He joined Robertson as a senior Quantity Surveyor in 2008 and has held the positions of Senior QS, Managing QS, Commercial Manager before being promoted to Commercial Director in 2016.
His diverse portfolio of projects ranges across numerous sectors including education (primary, secondary, and higher education projects), retail, health (primary care and acute), leisure, commercial, industrial, hospitality, student accommodation and residential.
In recent years he has worked on such notable projects as the fast-track construction of the Day Treatment Centre at Freeman Hospital (completed in 2022), and the Melia, a new build hotel at Newcastle Quayside (completed in 2020).
He also played a key role in the 2019 Smokehouses residential development of apartments in North Shields, the refurbishment of the iconic Spanish City in Whitley Bay completed in 2018 as well as the Kepier House new-build student accommodation in Durham city centre which completed in 2017.
Speaking on his appointment, Neil said: “Robertson Construction North East is going from strength to strength having built a reputation for repeat business and excellent quality. I’ve worked on some exceptional projects with Robertson over the years and growing up, studying and working in the area, it’s important to me to see the positive impact the construction of these buildings has had on the north east.
“It’s an honour to take on the managing director role from Garry Hope. I share his keen focus on building relationships with our clients and supply chain partners, and look forward in continuing to grow the business and deliver for our customers.”
Brian McQuade, Chief Operating Officer Robertson Group, said: “At Robertson, one of our biggest strengths is our people. Construction North East has been operating for more than 25 years and Neil has been a member of the team for well over half that time playing a vital role in the growth of the region.
“To follow Garry, who was so well known and respected by colleagues and the industry alike, is no mean feat but I know that Neil is absolutely the right person for the role. He sets the personal and professional standards that others wish to follow.
“I look forward to seeing Construction North East continue to prosper under his leadership and congratulate him in his new role.”
Set up in 1999, Robertson Construction North East is based in Gateshead and operates from the Borders through to North Yorkshire and across to Carlisle. It delivers in the commercial, educational, residential and industrial sectors with projects ranging from £1m through to £30m. Its Small Works team also deliver projects ranging from £50k to £1m.
