New boss for Lafarge aspalt and contracting

WORLD leader in building materials, Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK has a new man at the helm of its Asphalt and Contracting division.

Shaun Davidson, 42, returns to the UK after spending almost two years as Lafarge A&C Vice President General Manager, Concrete, for Central Europe.

The Yorkshireman is no stranger to the asphalt market however boasting a strong career background in that field and having previously been the Director of Lafarge's UK Asphalt business.

Shaun succeeds Chris Plant as Managing Director Asphalt & Contracting with Chris moving on to become Divisional Head of Health & Safety (Aggregates & Concrete).

Married with two children and a keen sportsman, Shaun worked briefly in banking before being offered a position with Thomas Ward Roadstone, the materials and surfacing company, at the age of 17.

Shaun explained:"I started at a very junior level, working in the sales office and on construction sites. It was very much hands on experience."

Largely involved in the asphalt and pave sector and having worked for independent and major construction companies Shaun joined Lafarge in January 2001 when the company acquired its first asphalt plants in Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

He has worked within asphalt, aggregates and ready-mix concrete, gaining a sound knowledge of the Lafarge business and the construction sector overall.

The last two years has seen Shaun working across Poland, Romania, Austria and Germany and helping to develop businesses in Serbia, Slovenia, and the Ukraine. A Central European role offered opportunities to explore, expand and re-energise emerging markets and for Shaun on a personal level to gain valuable insight into different cultures.

He said: "The more you travel around the world the more you realise how people's values differ from one country to another. Once you fully understand this concept only then can you truly understand what matters to them. I learnt a lot about myself but also a lot about people and we must remember that it is people who are at the heart of our business."

Now back in the UK, Sheffield born Shaun is looking forward to renewing relationships with customers across the country and building on the existing successes of the Lafarge Asphalt and Contracting businesses.

He said:"I am delighted to be appointed into what will be an exciting and challenging role. Asphalt and Contracting is integral to the long term, continued success of Lafarge A&C UK. I intend to build on both our recent successes in supplying and laying major infrastructure and commercial projects along with our market leading position in innovative solutions for our customers.

"I look forward to creating value for all of our clients by ensuring Lafarge's core values of Health & Safety, Innovation and Sustainable Development play a fundamental role in creating a market leading position .....to become the supplier of choice on the basis of who we are, what we stand for, and more importantly what we do."