Andy Radcliffe, group chief executive officer who is leading a business transformational plan, told staff yesterday that Davies had left after discussions to pursue other opportunities.

Radcliffe said Esh would be looking at revised reporting lines into the group leadership team in due course.

In the interim, commercial director Paul Watson has agreed to keep a watching brief over all non-civils areas of the business, assisted by Radcliffe and construction deputy chief operating officer Steve Wilkie.

Radcliffe told staff that there was nothing untoward to read into this change.

“Leadership teams change frequently in many businesses, and we are no different.

“And for the avoidance of doubt, the business remains in good shape and we continue to be excited about our future prospects,” he added in an email to staff.

Davies joined Lumsden & Carroll Civil Engineering,  a founding company of Esh Group, in 1990 and was appointed managing director in 2002.

He became managing director of Esh Construction in 2011 and was promoted to the post of group chief operations officer two years ago.

Esh Group has simplified its business after suffering a trading loss in 2017, following several years of growing too quickly in pursuit of a £300m turnover target.

The business has been downsized to focus on core strengths.