Vermont names managing director
The Liverpool-based developer and contractor has appointed Chris Gallagher as managing director, promoting him from his role as operations director at the firm.
Gallagher joined Vermont Property Group as a project manager in 2015 and has worked on the delivery of a string of residential projects across the region, including the £200m Salford Quays tower scheme in partnership with X1 Developments, and Peel L&P and Regenda’s £21m Plaza 1821 apartment scheme at Liverpool Waters.
His appointment as managing director is part of Vermont’s strategy to expand its development and contracting operations with a focus on the private rental sector – broadening its focus from residential and student accommodation, the company said.
Gallagher will join Vermont’s board chaired by company chief executive Mark Connor, finance director Mike Huston, commercial director Mark Baird and construction director Mark Colton.
Connor said: “To date, our growth has been reliant on the sales market, where the funding model depends heavily on sales to UK or foreign investors.
“This market is cyclical, and we identified as far back as 2015, when Chris joined the business, that the challenge would be ensuring growth beyond the current sales cycle. We see plenty of scope to expand and grow the business in the growing PRS sector.”
Originally from Gateshead, Gallagher started his career as a site engineer at Wimpey Construction, before moving to become a senior site manager at HBG (now BAM) Construction. He joined Vermont from GB Complete Building Solutions, where he was projects director.
Gallagher said: “My role will bring clarity for our team and our customers as we continue to deliver major projects and grow the business.
“Vermont does have a fairly unique approach as a developer-contractor business model. We have negotiated pipelines of work as opposed to being a traditional contracting business, and our clients can draw on our extensive sector experience.”
Vermont is headquartered in Liverpool and was founded in 2004. It provides development consultancy as well as traditional development and contracting services.
“A client might come to us with a clean sheet of paper or an option on a piece of land – we’ll look at the viability and add value, perhaps by increasing the density or otherwise making the scheme more efficient,” Gallagher added.
The company opted not to continue building two Liverpool projects for Elliot Group earlier this year when the developer, headed up by Elliot Lawless, become embroiled in legal controversy.
