Financial Times: 14 May 2007

In today's Financial Times is an interview with Ray O'Rourke, CEO of Laing O'Rourke. From a tiny concrete contractor in Ireland in the 1990s Ray has created the largest construction firm in the UK. Today Laing O'Rourke is the major contractor on Heathrow's new Terminal 5 (which will come in early and below budget!) and the London Olympics mega-projects.

Of his work with Wolfgang Grulke during the acquisition of Laing construction in 2001 Ray O'Rourke says:
"It was so inspirational that you could not but be excited! Wolfgang was saying it is great to think big and be emotionally excited by taking on challenging opportunities. It was against this backdrop that the acquisition of Laing took place. We looked at the risks – and the opportunities. Although incremental improvements are OK, you do need a step change."

At the time of acquiring Laing in 2001, O'Rourke turnover was GBP 240 m – today that is approaching GBP 4 billion with 23 000 employees. That's radical growth!

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