MICHAEL KEITH MCDONALD
Crowthorne,Berkshire
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in risk assessment and mitigation, corporate budget oversight, and supply chain management. Demonstrates strong leadership capabilities with a proven track record in profit margin optimisation and financial forecasting. Skilled in commercial strategy development, client retention strategies, and advanced negotiation techniques. Adept at managing P&L accountability and contractual law understanding to drive business growth. Committed to fostering team growth through effective onboarding, coaching, and training initiatives. Career goals include leveraging commercial acumen to enhance organisational success and drive strategic initiatives.
Overview
1
1
Certification
40
40
years of professional experience
Work history
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
BYRNE BROS (FORMWORK) LTD
London
2016.06 - 2026.07
- Oversee head-office commercial team across all live projects delivering annual turnover of c£100m.
- Manage 9 surveyors across projects valued £600k to £65m for JCT and NEC.
- Pitch additional commercial support requirements to unblock contentious procurement and account finalisation.
- Hands on account management
- Negotiate account settlements
- Enhanced team performance by implementing strategic commercial initiatives.
- Oversaw operational activities to ensure alignment with business goals.
- Implemented cost control measures, improving financial efficiency.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement within the commercial team.
- Produced and implemented strategic commercial plans to grow profit and meet organisational objectives.
- Negotiated contracts, securing optimum conditions for business expansion.
- Addressed customer issues with compassion and professionalism, ensuring swift, successful resolution.
- Acted as point of contact for high-level queries and represented team at senior leadership meetings.
- Monitored documentation and implementation of key contract applications and working capital processes.
- Developed strong teams by skilfully recruiting, orienting and training loyal, hard-working employees.
SURVEYING MANAGER
HOC UK LIMITED
London
2015.06 - 2016.05
- Responsible for quantity surveying & legal functions in a £60m turnover business.
- Drafting domestic subcontracts, consultant appointments & monthly project reporting forms.
- Managing contract negotiations with lawyers.
- Member of business governance board.
- Reporting directly to group board.
- Translated senior management directives into actionable front-line policies and implemented changes with staff.
SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER
BYRNE BROS (FORMWORK) LTD
Teddington
2013.02 - 2015.06
- Site based on new build £45m nuclear facility.
- Responsible for the complete financial performance leading a commercial & procurement team of 8 at peak.
- Successfully increased NEC Target Cost by 30% in first 12 months through effective change management month on month improved final margin forecast.
- In parallel with project role, I have successfully negotiated revised terms & conditions of supply suppliers across the business and provided strategic advice on ways to manage other difficult NEC
SENIOR CONSULTANT
CR MANAGEMENT LTD
Hertfordshire
2008.03 - 2013.02
- Provision of out-sourced senior commercial management of major project issues for ‘Top 10’ Duties include undertaking project audits, identifying cause(s) of issue(s), strategizing implementing recovery measures, preparing, and defending extension of time, disruption, and claims.
- Role extends to provision of full Referring Party/Responding Party role at adjudication stepping into lead commercial role and assuming responsibility for Projects on behalf of Client accounts upstream and down.
- The role includes a high degree of client relationship management.
- Successful adjudications, secured extensions of time, achieved significant upstream and down and been acknowledged for my Customer Satisfaction achievements.
DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
ISG INTERIOREXTERIOR PLC
London
2005.09 - 2008.03
- Initially working with the Special Works Division where I was instrumental in helping the Division reduce its outstanding cash/retentions and deliver a set of “super-stretch” year-end results.
- Promoted to New Build Division with an annual turnover of £130m and an overall staffing level of 85 commercial staff.
- Responsible for business planning, overseeing second stage contract conversion targets, reviewing project performance, analysing overheads, preparing monthly board papers, bonuses, mentoring commercial staff, conducting staff appraisals, monitoring supply chain performance and client relationship management.
- Various JCT & bespoke forms of contract in mixed use, commercial, residential & educational typically valued at £5m - £50m.
- I significantly improved the content of monthly financial board reports, introduced risk management quality, loyal staff and assisted the Division to secure its most consistent year on year improvement forecasting, reduction of overdue retentions and achievement of annual budget targets.
SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER
SIR ROBERT McALPINE LTD
London
2005.02 - 2005.09
- Site-based during the second stage development of the design & build GMP & early site works conversion of the Millennium Dome into the O2 Arena.
- In parallel I commercially managed the £8m new-build David Beckham Football Academy, procuring trade contracts.
- Both employed JCT forms of contract.
- I significantly improved the subcontract tendering and reporting process and the actual Contractor’s Proposals resulting in a more robust overall GMP offer.
DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
M J GLEESON PLC
Surrey
2003.09 - 2004.11
- Responsible for the commercial performance of the Southern Division with an annual turnover and overall staffing level of 85 including 20 commercial staff.
- Responsible for business planning, overseeing design management, reviewing project performance, analysing overheads, preparing monthly board papers, measuring KPI’s, mentoring commercial staff, conducting staff appraisals, monitoring supply chain performance and client relationship management.
- Various JCT & bespoke forms of contract in mixed use, commercial, residential, education, leisure, custodial & retail sectors. Projects typically valued at £10m - £45m.
- I introduced and implemented the concept of macro and micro risk management, improved the procurement and installation of FF&E at the critical tail-end of project, recruited quality, loyal staff and took responsibility for the commercial reporting for the Midlands Operating Unit.
REGIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
JARVIS CONSTRUCTION (UK) LTD
Essex
2001.01 - 2003.09
- Responsible for the commercial performance of the South-East Division and ultimately the Division with a combined annual turnover of £100m and an overall staffing level of 120 including 20 commercial staff.
- Responsible for business planning, reviewing project performance, analysing overheads, preparing board papers, measuring KPI’s, mentoring commercial staff, conducting staff appraisals and client relationship management.
- Various bespoke forms of contract predominantly in education and health sectors under Projects typically valued at £10m - £55m.
- I introduced and implemented the concept of macro and micro risk management, recruited quality, stepped in to keep a failing overseas bathroom pod manufacturer stay afloat long enough delivery of all remaining orders for the Division.
MANAGING SURVEYOR
HEERY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
London
1987.02 - 2001.01
- Hands-on project roles responsible for cost planning, procurement of design consultants, developing scopes, negotiation of contract terms with external lawyers, procurement of Main Contractors and Trade Contractors, post-contract financial control including valuations, ascertaining settlement of final accounts, recovery of fees and client relationship management.
- Key Projects:
- Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Leith; £65m; PM of 2-stage GMP
- Edinburgh Airport Redevelopment; 40m; CM of multiple NEC contracts
- The Malls Shopping Centre, Bristol; £100m; PM of 2-stage GMP
- DRA Site Rationalisation Project, South England; £182m; PM of multiple GC/Works Contracts
- Glasgow Airport International Pier; £40m; DMC Contractor
- I developed many of the commercial procedures including procurement, project monthly financial the management of design & construction change and was the youngest person at the time to position of Associate.
Education
OTC - Building Studies
Mid-Cheshire College of Further Education
Northwich, CheshireBSc. Degree - Quantity Surveying
Liverpool Polytechnic
Liverpool 2001.04 -
Skills
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Profit margin optimization
- Change management expertise
- Financial reporting capabilities
- P and L accountability
- Contractual law understanding
- Financial Forecasting
- Commercial strategy implementation
- Onboarding and coaching
- Commercial acumen & strategies
- Advanced negotiation
- Exemplary written and verbal communication
- Leadership expertise
- Negotiation
- Training and mentoring
HOBBIES
Gardening, Golf, DIY, Socialising, Dog Walking.
Accomplishments
- Previous RICS Assessor for Associate Grade entry candidates
- Co-author of “Procurement Route Selection on Shopping Centre Development/Refurbishment” for the British Council of Shopping Centres
- McGill & Partners Award,” Liverpool Polytechnic, for best Civil Engineering Paper submitted in Final Examination
- Completed IoD course on ‘Finance for Non-Financial Directors’
- Currently hold security clearance in nuclear sector
Certification
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - Member
Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors - Member
Forum for the Built Environment - Fellow
CSCS Card - Expires end July 2029
Affiliations
- Tennis, Gardening, Socialising
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
BYRNE BROS (FORMWORK) LTD
2016.06 - 2026.07
SURVEYING MANAGER
HOC UK LIMITED
2015.06 - 2016.05
SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER
BYRNE BROS (FORMWORK) LTD
2013.02 - 2015.06
SENIOR CONSULTANT
CR MANAGEMENT LTD
2008.03 - 2013.02
DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
ISG INTERIOREXTERIOR PLC
2005.09 - 2008.03
SENIOR COMMERCIAL MANAGER
SIR ROBERT McALPINE LTD
2005.02 - 2005.09
DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
M J GLEESON PLC
2003.09 - 2004.11
BSc. Degree - Quantity Surveying
Liverpool Polytechnic
2001.04 -
REGIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
JARVIS CONSTRUCTION (UK) LTD
2001.01 - 2003.09
MANAGING SURVEYOR
HEERY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
1987.02 - 2001.01
OTC - Building Studies
Mid-Cheshire College of Further Education