The firm will now start the search for a new chief executive officer of the EMEA region.

His relocation to Sydney later this year will also leave the Government with the headache of finding a new joint chair of its Green Construction Board, just as the search starts for a replacement for its construction tsar Paul Morrell.

Labbad takes up his new job as group COO from 2 July. But he is expected to continue with both jobs to ensure a smooth transition while his replacement is found.

He presided over a major period of change in his two years running Lend Lease EMEA.

Several high profile managers left during that time and the firm has changed its remit to pursue smaller jobs as well as counting on work from the huge redevelopment of Elephant & Castle in south London.

Labbad has worked at Lend Lease for 15 years and has worked in a range of leadership and operational roles in Australia and abroad in the retail, residential, infrastructure development and investment management businesses, as well as on major projects.