He’s the man credited with helping turn a small project management consultancy into a global business, now Mark Holmes is stepping down from his role as deputy chair of Mace Group.
Holmes, who joined the business way back in 1992 and is its longest serving board member, has announced he will be stepping down in December 2023. However, his long association with the company he has done so much to shape is far from over.
In his role as deputy chairman, Holmes is responsible for a number of key corporate functions, including human resources, responsible business, and marketing and communications.
He has served as the board sponsor for the group’s commitment to addressing climate change, has chaired Mace’s people and talent board, and has led the diversity and inclusion steering committee.
Outside of his role at Mace, for the past three years, he has been co-chair of Infrastructure Exports: UK, a partnership between industry and the Department of Business and Trade, which supports the export of British construction, engineering and design expertise across the globe. He will continue in this role until April 2024.
Holmes will remain on Mace’s shareholder board, and will continue on as chair of the Mace Operate Board.
He will also take on a new role as the chief executive of the Mace Foundation, succeeding Dennis Hone CBE, who steps down in December. This organisation is Mace’s independent charitable foundation.
Privilege
Holmes said: “It has been a privilege to play my part in the development of this great company. Loyalty is an underused word these days, but it has been great fun, and I leave the business with only fond memories – and look forward to seeing it continue to prosper in the future.”
He joined Mace as a project manager in 1992 to deliver a new corporate headquarters for British Airways, and was the group’s 30th employee. Holmes is also the longest serving member of the board. He played a key role in the management buy-out of the group in 2001, led Mace’s property consultancy arm until 2019, and was appointed deputy chairman of the Group in 2020.
Over his three decades with the business, Holmes is credited with a pivotal role in Mace’s organic growth, launching new businesses and service lines – including Mace’s cost and commercial service, Mace’s North Americas business, Mace’s entry into the public sector, launching Mace Operate, a global facilities management provider, and being heavily involved in setting up its graduate and talent development programmes.
Personal legacy
Rodney Berkeley CBE, director for sustainability and infrastructure, at the Department for Business and Trade, said: “Mark has played an instrumental role in supporting British firms across the construction and infrastructure sector in bidding and securing major global programmes.
“His leadership of IE:UK has brought industry closer with government, helping target opportunities and enabling companies across the supply chain to explore exporting opportunities for the benefit of UK Plc. He has made a huge contribution across his thirty years of service with Mace.”
Mark Reynolds, Mace Group’s chair and chief executive, said: “There can be few people in our industry who can claim to have had the impact that Mark has had over the past thirty years. He has been a foundational part of Mace’s success and has been an invaluable support to me during my tenure as chairman and chief executive.
“Mark’s personal legacy, aside from the growth of Mace from a small project management consultancy to a global consultant and contractor, is his unwavering commitment to sustainability, inclusion and Mace’s role as a responsible employer. We are pleased that he will continue to help guide the future growth of the business as a member of our shareholder board and the Mace Foundation.”
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