Taylor was previously regional chairman at the house builder, with responsibility for its operations from the South East to Wales, the St Modwen/Persimmon joint venture and a 400 person strong civil engineering and groundworks business.

He will join the profitable family-owned business next month to lead the next phase of growth. 

The £60m revenue Gallagher Group has expanded from its Kent base to create a strong presence across the south east of England around its four principal operating businesses: building, civil engineering, aggregates and property development.

Taylor said: “There is a clear commitment to set a progressive future strategy and plan for the Group’s further profitable growth, together with its family-owners, the Board and senior management team.

“I look forward to getting to know all facets of the business and the people who have made it such a success.’

Outgoing Gallagher CEO, Nick Yandle will remain with the firm to facilitate a two-month handover, departing at the end of 2018 as planned.

Prior to joining Persimmon, Taylor spent over a decade at international cost and property consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall, where he was chief executive from 2007 to 2014.

At RLB he was involved in a range of major infrastructure and energy projects such as supporting LOCOG on the 2012 London Olympics and nuclear decommissioning work at Sellafield.

He began his career in a range of on-site engineering, contracts and project management roles at Tarmac, Birse, and Sisk, before moving into project management at PCM and Head of Project Management at GVA.

Gallagher Group chairman, Pat Gallagher, said: “It is an exciting time for our business.

“This year we are celebrating 45 years of successful operation and we have just concluded our latest financial year making further positive progress with strong trading across all our operations.”