Willmott Dixon appoints new North East delivery director

Mark Wolverson has taken over the construction reins of Willmott Dixon’s North East region, returning to the business he spent 14 years with to lead delivery of a portfolio that includes £58m of civic, defence, transport and education projects currently on site.

Mark brings more than 16 years of construction industry experience, 14 of which from his time at Willmott Dixon. He rejoins from Wates where he held the role of Operations Director for the North East.

Willmott Dixon’s North East region has recently completed a run of projects worth around £54m, including the transformation of Eston Pool, the rebuild of Durham’s newest cultural venue The Light, the Maritime Hub in Whitby, and the transformation of Darlington Station. Each project prioritised local spending and created employment and training opportunities for local people, helping to strengthen local economies.

Mark becomes Delivery Director for a region with five schemes on site. The new Durham Academy, secured through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework, will deliver a 3,538 square metre three-storey secondary school for 500 pupils at Ushaw Moor, designed to target net zero carbon in operation and due for completion in August 2027. Also, the extension to the Rivergreen Centre in Durham will provide new council chambers, meeting space and offices for councillors and staff. Further work includes the redevelopment of Catterick Town Centre, re-cladding works to Durham Bus Station and the refurbishment of The Dolphin Centre in Darlington.

Building our Future in the North East

The appointment comes as Willmott Dixon’s construction business begins delivering Building our Future, its strategy to 2030, which asks each regional business to build its own growth plan around Willmott Dixon’s three differentiators: exceptional service, whole project support, and local focus enhanced by national strength.

That means working with customers earlier, such as supporting business cases, planning and funding options before a scheme reaches procurement, and using local relationships and local supply chain partners to get projects onto site sooner. Leading this alongside delivery of the current portfolio is central to Mark’s brief.

Anthony Dillon, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the North:

“Mark knows this business and he knows this region. Fourteen years here, the most recent of them running operations in the North East, means he arrives understanding both our customers and our supply chain. That matters more than ever as we take Building our Future forward, because growing the region depends on being close to local decision makers and being involved early rather than waiting for a tender.

“He has a real commitment to building strong teams, delivering results for our customers and creating lasting relationships. Having him back is good for the North East.”

Mark Wolverson (above), North East Delivery Director at Willmott Dixon:

“I’m excited to be back at Willmott Dixon; it genuinely feels like coming home. I started my career here 16 years ago and spent 14 fantastic years with the business and what makes it particularly special is the opportunity to work again with so many amazing people who have played an important part in my journey. To now lead the North East region fulfils a long-held ambition, and I’m incredibly excited about the next chapter.”