Ipswich-based construction firm the Barnes Group has appointed joint managing directors to run the firm following the sad loss of its longstanding boss of 18 years at the end of last year.

East Anglian Daily Times: Nick Fayers, former managing director of Barnes Construction, who died last year. Picture: PAUL NIXON PHOTOGRAPHYNick Fayers, former managing director of Barnes Construction, who died last year. Picture: PAUL NIXON PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Paul Nixon Photography 07904296577)

The firm faced several months without a managing director after Nick Fayers, 56, died as a result of a longstanding medical condition, MEN1.

But it has now appointed Bob Steward and Mark Hart as joint divisional managing directors.

Due to Nick’s illness and his death in December, both Bob, who was surveying director, and Mark, who was construction director, have between them dealt with many of the management tasks that fall within the ambit of the managing director in recent months and this decision formalises that arrangement, the company said.

Bob, who joined Barnes at the same time as Nick in 1983, will lead on the commercial side of the business while Mark, who joined in 2007, will lead on delivery.

They will jointly make all the key decisions in the business, consulting with the board where relevant.

Chairman William Barnes said: “Bob and Mark have, between them, 44 years of cumulative experience of our particular family business ethos and our way of working.

“They will continue with the same approach to the quality of our building work and our collaborative working relationships with clients, consultants and sub-contractors that we believe are central to our business.”