Joanne Conway has become chief executive of family-run infrastructure-services contractor FM Conway.
She steps up to the helm 18 months after becoming chair, and 20 years since joining the firm as a marketing coordinator.
Joanne’s grandfather Frank Conway founded the firm in 1961, while her late father Michael Conway took the reins two decades later and rapidly grew turnover from under £1m to over £300m.
Michael moved up to chairman in 2020, with Adam Green becoming the first non-family chief executive and holding the post for three years until stepping down due to health reasons this month.
Joanne’s appointment thus marks a return to family leadership as well as the company’s first female top boss. She joins Skanska’s Katy Dowding and William Hare Group’s Susan Hodgkiss as one of only three women in charge of CN100 contractors.
In a statement, FM Conway said: “Due to health reasons, Adam Green has stepped down from his role as CEO at FM Conway. We wish Adam well, and we’re grateful for his stewardship of the company in recent years.
“Joanne Conway will take up the additional role of CEO along with her current executive group chair role.”
Conway said on LinkedIn this week: “I am happy to share that I’m starting a new position as CEO and executive group chair of FM Conway.”
When appointed as chair in May 2022, Conway spoke highly of the evolution of the business under her father’s leadership.
“I am proud of the business that we are today,” she said last year. “We are a family business with family values working towards delivering the best solutions for all by using the safest, innovative and most sustainable methods. And most importantly, with a workforce of people that care.”
FM Conway is the UK’s 41st largest contractor by turnover according to the latest CN100, rising nine places after posting income of £478.1m for the 12 months to March 2022.
The firm this year acquired Essex-based Flowline and its 164 employees from administration.
