Peter Handley, who was brought in by chief executive Mark Cutler in a business streamlining, will formally step down next month.

Handley rejoined Van Elle in January last year after several years at Skanska Cementation.

At Van Elle, Handley held several leadership roles before taking over as head of the group’s £30m Smartfoot housing operation in May when its director Tony Pontiero stepped down, in a trio of director departures including Matt Love, Group Preconstruction Director and Mick Mason, Group Services Director.

In the interim, piling director Malcolm O’Sullivan, will oversee the specialist housing division and precast concrete manufacturing facilities.

Among the latest boardroom changes, Brandon Ferriera, former managing director of Volker Ground Engineering, has joined Van Elle this month as group business development director.

He brings nearly 30 years experience in the ground engineering sector having also spent 16 years at Cementation, and working with Frankipile in South Africa before that.