executive committee

Paul Drechsler
Chairman and Chief Executive
Paul joined Wates in 2004.

He was born in Ireland and after studying Engineering at Trinity College, Dublin, spent 24 years with ICI, where he became a main board director.

He is an international businessman who has spent much of his career in the USA, Latin America and Continental Europe. Paul is also a member of the CBI Energy Policy Committee and Chair of the BiTC Education Leadership Team.

Helen Bunch
Managing Director, Wates Retail
Helen joined Wates in 2006 as Group Strategy Director and led the establishment of the Wates International business. Prior to Wates, Helen had 15 years of international sales, marketing and business management experience, having worked in a number of different divisions of ICI plc, based at various times in Europe, Japan and America.

Helen became Managing Director of Wates Retail in January 2011. 

Ian Burnett
Managing Director, Wates Living Space
Ian began his career as a quantity surveyor in 1977 with R.M. Douglas on Teeside. Having established their Leeds office in 1988, he moved to A.F. Budge before setting up a partnership called Trafford J Feekins.

After 6 years managing the business, Ian missed the day to day involvement in construction and he joined Wates as Managing Surveyor before becoming MD of Living Space in 2005. Ian also holds the position of Chair for the Opportunity for All Group.

Huw Davies BA MBA FCA
Chief Financial Officer
Huw joined Wates in 2005.

Huw started his career with accountants, Ernst & Young, before progressing to a position in the Arabian Gulf working for the Government of Oman. After a spell at KPMG focusing on risk management, Huw became Group Finance Controller and then Head of Corporate Finance at Taylor Woodrow plc, where he gained in-depth experience of the construction and development sector.

David Smith MRICS
Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Construction  
Dave started his career in construction as a trainee surveyor with Robert McAlpine Ltd. He joined Wates in 1985, being promoted to divisional manager with overall responsibility for the specialist refurbishment division in London in 1995.

In 1999 he became MD of Wates’ public sector business, where he oversaw major projects such as the renovation of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, building the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace and the very first social housing frameworks.

After Wates’ restructure in 2005, Dave was appointed MD of the construction business, taking responsibility for the company’s education, commercial and public sector work.

He is also on the Steering Group of the Housing Forum and Executive Sponsor for our Target Zero Programme.

Julia Tyson
HR Director 
Julia joined Wates in September 2006.

After graduating, Julia joined the Boots Company in Graduate Recruitment and Training.  With her career path including working for a subsidiary of Marconi, a logistics company and financial services companies Barclays and RBS, Julia developed her generalist HR skills.

As a career HR professional, Julia has acquired over 23 years’ experience of working with businesses to generate success that can also create opportunities for staff.

Julia is also the Executive Sponsor for our Skills and Employability Programme.

Rod Stewart MSc
Group Production Director

Rod joined Wates in September 2010.

Rod began his career as a Site and Structural Design Engineer with Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Ltd. A later move to British Steel as Advisory Engineer, then Technical Manager saw Rod working with clients across Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Singapore where he advised specifiers on design innovation in structural steelwork solutions, and added-value services.

Rod then spent seven years progressing with Halcrow Group Ltd. firstly as Chief Project Engineer on major bridge construction projects in Hong Kong, then as Principal Engineer seconded to UK Highways Agency, and finally as Regional Director for developing consultancy businesses and major projects in Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2001 Rod joined Hyder Consulting (Middle East), initially as Area Director responsible for their Dubai Office, then later on as Regional Managing Director responsible for all activity across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

In 2008 Rod returned to UK as Managing Director, to lead the restructure of Hyder Consulting (UK) into a more sector focused and market facing organisation.

Peter Whittle
Group Strategy and Marketing Director
Peter has extensive UK and international business strategy and operating experience.  His previous roles include Board Director and Head of Strategy at Tarmac Group Limited, a £3 billion international construction materials business.  His responsibilities included group strategy, marketing, communications, technical, and also business development in the Middle East, India and China.

Peter has held a variety of roles in engineering services, paints, speciality chemicals and was a Director at the Met Office. He is also a strategic advisor to a UK charitable trust. 

Peter joined Wates in April 2011.

Stuart Togwell  MRICS
Group Commercial Director
Stuart joined Wates as a trainee surveyor in 1986 and has progressed through line management to his appointment in September 2011 as Group Commercial Director.  With twenty five years of experience, Stuart has encountered most procurement routes from PFI to long term partnering contracts and most construction products ranging from £2m to over £100m in size across the UK and more recently the Middle East.  His general business acumen, willingness to challenge and provide clear thinking makes him an excellent lead for key business initiatives and problem solving.  Stuart is responsible for all commercial activities in the Group, including surveying, risk management, legal, supply chain management and tendering.