Laing O'Rourke has announced that Anna Stewart will step down as Group Chief Executive with immediate effect due to ill health.

Ray O'Rourke, Laing O'Rourke Group Executive Chairman, will now assume her responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer.

Anna Stewart has reportedly resigned for health reasons. Ray O'Rourke commented:

"Anna's medical treatment makes it impossible to continue with the full range of her extensive work duties and travel commitments.  I can confirm that Anna will be continuing with the Laing O'Rourke Group and going forward will support me with a number of important strategic activities, which will be managed around her treatment regime. We, as a Board, extend our very best wishes to Anna for a full and speedy recovery."

Anna joined Laing Limited as a trainee in 1982, and was employed in a number of senior commercial and general management leadership roles, prior to the acquisition of Laing Construction by R O'Rourke & Son in 2001.  She was appointed Group Chief Executive of Laing O'Rourke with effect from April 2013. She was previously Group Commercial Director from 2004 and was appointed Group Director of Finance and Commerce in March 2010.

Laing O'Rourke is a multinational construction company headquartered in Dartford, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1978 by Ray O'Rourke. It is the largest privately owned construction company in the UK.