Laytons Manchester head joins Enterprise

Laytons' Manchester managing partner is leaving to join property services company Enterprise as an executive director.

John Gavan, who has headed the Manchester office since 1990, will join the support services group on a full-time basis from 1 May as commercial director.

However, Gavan will take on Laytons' newly-created role of chairman and retain his place on the finance and remuneration committees and continue to take equity.

The Manchester office will now be run by a committee of partners who will meet weekly. The committee includes partners Christine Barker and David Sefton, and associated partners Justine Phelan and Julie Wilcock.

The committee has been in place since Gavan went on secondment to Enterprise in August last year, but the firm has decided to keep the flat management structure in place.

Commenting on the fact that Gavan will continue to take equity at the firm, Laytons' chief executive partner Richard Kennett says: "We have a flexible remuneration structure which enables people to be rewarded for their commitments."

He adds that in his role as chairman at the firm Gavan will be able to use his "leadership and guidance" skills while also attracting business from Enterprise.

Gavan says that as part of his new full-time role he will focus primarily on corporate finance, acquisitions and the formation of the group following the reverse takeover of AIM listed company Enterprise by Arm Services Group last year. In July last year, Enterprise announced its "merger" with Arm, as its posted results showed a significant drop in profits. For the year ended 30 April 2000, pre-tax profits declined from £2.1m to £1.24m.

Last week, however, Enterprise purchased gas company Thomas Bermingham for £6.1m.