Murdoch to step down from Stevens Scanlan

Alan Murdoch, senior partner of surveyor Stevens Scanlan, is to retire later this year but will remain as a part-time consultant at the Manchester office.

Murdoch is the grandson of company founder Bill Scanlan who set up the business with Charles Stevens in 1932.

He joined Stevens Scanlan in London in 1972 and moved to Manchester in 1976 to build a regional office.

The Manchester office is now the headquarters of the practice with other offices in London, Leeds, Birmingham and Cardiff.

David McKee, managing partner, said: "Alan's role in building up the practice into a force to be reckoned with within the national property sector cannot be overstated. He built up and maintained Stevens Scanlan's reputation of expertise and excellence without compromise. This has proved to be a valuable foundation in the current economic climate which has badly hit a number of our competitors."

Murdoch said: "My family connections with Stevens Scanlan stretch back almost 80 years so I am proud to have carried on that tradition. Throughout my career I have concentrated on building a strong team of surveyors, partners and support staff, and investing in both high quality staff training and robust business systems. I would like to think that it is this that has helped Stevens Scanlan successfully weather the current economic storm and will make it stronger when the economic upturn comes. Under the strong and capable direction of David and his fellow partners, Stevens Scanlan is set for continuing growth and success for the decades to come."

In retirement Murdoch plans to devote more time to his personal business interests, which includes managing a property portfolio. Murdoch is chairman of the Wilmslow 41 club and a non-executive director of the Stockport-based Vernon Building Society. He will also remain a member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Panel of Experts and of the Non Administrative Receivers Association.