After five decades at the helm of Laing O’Rourke’s global operations, our Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer Ray O’Rourke KBE has informed the Board of his decision to step down from his role.
Ray, who founded the company in 1977 as a regionally based formwork and concrete specialist, has been at the forefront of developing a more innovative, productive and resilient sector from the outset.
He is a passionate advocate for the construction industry and has led continuous investment in digital and manufacturing technologies to deliver projects faster, greener, safer and to a higher standard.
With his passion for developing and promoting talented engineers and project management specialists, he is also committed to the people who work in our industry every day.
Ray will continue to serve on the Group Board as Vice Chairman, alongside his brother and partner Des. He will chair the Board’s Nominations Committee, drive innovation in construction methods and be available to the Group CEO for meetings with key customers and stakeholders, as well as being a mentor and advisor.
This represents an important milestone in the transition period for Laing O’Rourke as the company moves from a founder-led organisation to the leadership of the next generation of the Group.
The Board recognises the importance of this moment for the Company and has carefully considered the leadership decision. As a result, the Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Cathal O’Rourke as the new Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2024.
Cathal, a qualified civil engineer, has held a variety of operational and leadership roles across both of the organisation’s operational centres, including Managing Director in Australia and most recently Group Chief Operating Officer.
He is a highly respected industry leader who has driven change across the industry. As President of the Australian Constructors’ Association (ACA), he has been at the forefront of the sector’s transition to more collaborative contracting.
He also played a significant role in the Construction Industry Leadership Forum and the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce, which brought government and industry together to improve the procurement and delivery of infrastructure programs and industry culture.
Commenting on his appointment, Cathal said:
“I am honored to have been entrusted with the leadership of our company and our people, and I am committed to continuing to work with our customers, supply partners and all other stakeholders to create positive change.
“Together, we can further advance our mission to transform our sector into a more sustainable and productive industry by adopting new and innovative ways of doing things, while providing our people with secure, challenging and rewarding careers.”
Commenting on his decision to step down from the role of CEO and take on a new position on the Group’s Board, Ray said:
“I am delighted to hand over the reins of the CEO position to my son and our Group COO, Cathal O’Rourke.
“I am incredibly proud of our employees and what we have achieved as a company.
“We are committed to transforming our industry and our people are recognized worldwide for their ability to deliver complex engineering projects using sophisticated and mature techniques.
“Cathal has had a successful career in our family business spanning a quarter of a century and I am fully confident that he will continue to lead our people well into the future, upholding the values and principles that form the foundation of our success.”
Commenting on the change in leadership at Laing O’Rourke, Sir John Parker GBE FREng said:
“At this time of great change in the leadership of the Group, we are pleased to have such a qualified and talented successor to Ray in Cathal.
“The Board has full confidence in Cathal’s leadership qualities, his accumulated experience, his commitment to modernising the industry and his alignment with Laing O’Rourke’s values of care, integrity and courage.
“We applaud the unique creativity of Ray’s leadership in building the group and culture we know today. We are pleased that he will continue to serve as a mentor and advisor.”