End of an era: Michael Conlon retires

For the first time since its founding in 1961, the leader of Conlon Construction will not be a member of the Conlon family – with current managing director Guy Parker to take on the chairman role on 1 January.

Michael Conlon is retiring at the end of the year after 38 years with the company, which was founded by his father and uncles in 1961. He has been the Preston-based firm’s chairman since 2013.

During his tenure, the company has delivered the Peterloo Memorial in Manchester, the restoration of Preston Bus Station, and the refurbishment of The Harris museum and art gallery – a building he remembered visiting as a child with his mom.

A native Prestonian, Conlon said he was proud to help transform his home city.

“It’s great when you retire from construction because you’re still driving around and seeing all the buildings you were involved in,” he told Place North West.

“My father used to do it and say ‘we built that and we built that’, now I’ve I found myself doing that to our daughters,” he said.

“In our industry we leave something behind us, if you will, in the form of buildings. Each of them is a place for people to work, to be cured in hospitals, to learn, to live,” he added, referencing the firm’s work on offices, medical centres, schools, and homes.

Throat cancer saw Conlon experience one of his projects first hand. He had been a contracts manager working on the Rosemere Cancer Centre at Royal Preston Hospital in his early 30s. A few years ago, he was a patient there.

“I had not expected to need it,” he said of the building, one of the largest specialist cancer centres in the country. “It was one of those moments where you know your company and industry can make an impact.”

Conlon has been in remission for more than a year, but urges everyone to get checked out if something seems amiss on their body. “It may be nothing and you wasted 15 minutes of a doctor’s time, but it might be something,” he said.

When asked if he will miss his work at Conlon, he does not miss a beat. “Oh yeah,” he said with a laugh. Although he did point out he has quite a few holidays planned – as well as his duties as deputy lieutenant of Lancashire to keep himself busy.

But he noted that Conlon Construction’s future is bright even without him as chairman. Last year, he oversaw the company’s transition to an employee-owned company. He added that he trusts Parker to carry on the Conlon legacy.

“Guy has been integral to the business for many years,” Conlon said. “We’ve worked shoulder to shoulder, always focused on doing what’s best for our people, our clients and our community.

“With him at the helm, I know those values will continue to guide Conlon for years to come.”

Parker joined Conlon in 1998 and was made managing director in 2016.

Parker said: “It’s an honour to take on the role of chairman following Michael’s remarkable leadership and decades of service.

“As an employee-owned business, our people are central to everything we do. My priority is to uphold the values that have defined Conlon for more than 60 years while driving forward our commitment to delivering projects that genuinely improve the places we work in.

“I’m excited for the future and proud to lead a company our team are equally proud to own.”