Lee Powell

GMI Construction Group PLC appointed Lee Powell to the newly created role of Chief Executive Officer in January 2021 to realise its vision of long-term sustainable growth.

As one of the UK’s largest independent construction companies in the North of England and the Midlands, the business, spearheaded by Lee, has expanded into other regions and sectors and he implements a strategy of achieving constant and controlled growth while maintaining its debt free status.

In the role of Divisional Managing Director, before being promoted, Lee was central to the growth of the Yorkshire and North East division from around the £40M mark to its current standing of £180M annual turnover. This included the expansion into the ‘true’ North East, with a dedicated office in Stockton-on-Tees and a separate profit and loss centre of £50M turnover.

Lee said: “As the UK continues to level up across all of its key regions, I want to ensure GMI is right at the heart of that growth and powering forward with our expert team of industry leading professionals who continue to deliver excellence on project after project.

“I am however consciously aware that GMI needs to implement that growth by retaining those values that has delivered success to this company and our clients. These include using local suppliers and subcontractors whenever possible, as well as creating educational opportunities, to bring maximum economic benefit to the communities we are operating in.”

Lee is a product of Leeds College of Building and the University of Birmingham where he graduated as a QS. He started his construction career at Tarmac before rapidly rising through the ranks at Caddick and Wates, where he oversaw major projects in the North, with a combined total of £230M.