Willmott Dixon appoints North East delivery director
Mark Wolverson returns to the firm, which currently has £58m of projects under construction in the region, having most recently worked as operations director for the North East at Wates.
Wolverson brings more than 16 years’ construction industry experience to the role and will oversee delivery of five schemes currently on site across the region.
These include a new secondary school at Ushaw Moor in Durham, being delivered through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework.
The £21m, 38,000 sq ft, three-storey Durham Academy will provide space for 500 pupils and is targeting net zero carbon in operation. It is due to complete in August 2027.
Willmott Dixon is also extending the Rivergreen Centre in Durham to provide new council chambers, meeting space and offices for councillors and staff.
Other schemes in the current portfolio include the redevelopment of Catterick Town Centre, re-cladding works at Durham Bus Station and the refurbishment of the Dolphin Centre in Darlington.
Wolverson’s appointment follows the completion of around £54m of leisure, cultural, and transport projects by Willmott Dixon’s North East team.
Completed schemes include the transformation of Eston Pool, the rebuild of Durham cultural venue The Light, the Maritime Hub in Whitby, and the transformation of Darlington Station.
Wolverson will also lead the region’s implementation of Willmott Dixon’s Building our Future strategy to 2030, which aims to develop regional growth plans around early customer engagement, whole-project support, and greater use of local supply chains.
Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, 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.
“That matters more than ever as we take Building our Future forward, because 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: “I’m excited to be back at Willmott Dixon; it genuinely feels like coming home. I started my career here 16 years ago and spent 14 fantastic years with the business and what makes it particularly special is the opportunity to work again with so many amazing people who have played an important part in my journey.
“To now lead the North East region fulfils a long-held ambition, and I’m incredibly excited about the next chapter.”
