Amey chief executive Amanda Fisher has announced that she will leave the company when its sale to private equity investors has been completed.
Promoted to the top job in late 2019, Fisher is credited by the contractor as turning its fortunes around and preparing the ground for the £400m acquisition.
Parent company Ferrovial last month announced it had finally reached an agreement to sell Amey. A consortium of One Equity Partners and Buckthorn Partners is expected to take full ownership of the firm before the end of the year.
Prior to the deal being agreed, it had been rumoured that former Amey CEO Andy Milner was involved in the takeover talks. Fisher’s replacement has not yet been named.
Ferrovial’s chief executive of energy infrastructure and mobility, Gonzalo Nieto, thanked Fisher for her “excellent work”.
“During her three-year tenure she has overseen a cultural transformation, making Amey a modern organisation which puts its people first, and has successfully prepared the business for its sale,” said Nieto.
Amey chairman Ian Tyler wished Fisher well for the future.
“Amanda has strengthened Amey’s role as a strategic partner to government, not only in delivering services used by millions every day, but also in creating jobs, skills and social value for communities across the UK,” he said.
Buckthorn founding partner Nicholas Gee said he looked forward to working with the departing chief throughout a transitional period over the following weeks.
“We fully recognise Amanda’s contribution to the business and all she has achieved during her tenure as chief executive,” he said. “We look forward to working with her as we effect the transition to our ownership.”
Fisher, one of the few women CEOs in the industry, spoke candidly about an eventful first 18 months at the helm of Amey in an interview with Construction News last year.
An expert last month warned that Amey’s new owner faces a major challenge to achieve the kinds of return it would like from the company.
