Willmott Dixon has appointed former Wates operations director Mark Wolverson to lead delivery of £58m of projects across the North East.
Wolverson spent 14 of his 16 years in construction with Willmott Dixon, most recently running its North East operations, before leaving to join Wates. He has now returned to the contractor as North East delivery director, taking responsibility for five schemes on site covering education, civic, transport and leisure projects.
Willmott Dixon North managing director Anthony Dillon said: “Mark knows this business and he knows this region.
“Fourteen years here, the most recent of them running operations in the North East, means he arrives understanding both our customers and our supply chain.”
The current workload includes a new 3,538 sq m Durham Academy at Ushaw Moor, which Willmott Dixon secured through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework. The three-storey secondary school will accommodate 500 pupils and is targeting net-zero carbon in operation. Completion is scheduled for August 2027.
The contractor is also extending the Rivergreen Centre in Durham to provide council chambers, meeting space and offices. In Catterick, it is carrying out the redevelopment of the town centre, while other live projects include the recladding of Durham bus station and refurbishment of the Dolphin Centre in Darlington.
The latest workload follows around £54m of recently completed projects in the region. These include the transformation of Eston Pool, work at Durham cultural venue The Light, the Maritime Hub in Whitby and improvements at Darlington station.
Wolverson’s return comes as Willmott Dixon implements its Building our Future strategy, which sets out growth plans through to 2030. The approach includes earlier involvement with clients in developing business cases, planning projects and identifying funding.
Dillon said: “Growing the region depends on being close to local decision-makers and being involved early rather than waiting for a tender.
“He has a real commitment to building strong teams, delivering results for our customers and creating lasting relationships. Having him back is good for the North East.”
Wolverson said returning to Willmott Dixon “genuinely feels like coming home”, adding that leading the North East region fulfilled “a long-held ambition”.
