People

MANAGING DIRECTOR
Denis McCotter BSc (Hons) PGDip ProjMan MSCSI MRICS MAPM MIVM

Denis joined WH Stephens in 1994, becoming the Project Management Director in the WHS Group in 2002. A multi-disciplinary skills base in both Quantity Surveying and Project Management allows Denis to offer clients a truly holistic construction consultancy service. With over 25 years of experience in the industry both in the UK and Ireland providing effective cost and project management for a wide spectrum of projects in retail, residential, education, refurbishment and, the public realm mean Denis’ advice and leadership are of the highest calibre.

QUANTITY SURVEYING DIRECTOR
Ray Anderson BSc (Hons) MRICS MSCSI

Ray joined WH Stephens in 2007 progressing to Director in 2009. With an extensive experience in leading Quantity Surveying teams through all stages of project delivery, Ray offers an in-depth knowledge of contract, cost, and value management within all forms of public and private sector procurement. Particular areas of specialism cultivated over 20 years in the construction industry include historic buildings, large-scale health care schemes, education facilities, and retail developments.

QUANTITY SURVEYING DIRECTOR
John Leeding BSc (Hons) MRICS

John joined WH Stephens in 1984 becoming a Quantity Surveying Director in 1996. John provides clients with a quantity surveying and project management service enriched with almost 30 years of experience in the industry and is proficient in the effective cost management of a wide range of projects with a particular focus on large-scale retail and education. Clients benefit from John’s progressive and value-driven approach to administering construction projects and his skills in communication and leadership.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
David Beckett B Eng MAPM

David joined WH Stephens in 2013 and became a Director in 2018. David is a Project Management Director with experience in a wide range of building types and project solutions over a 30 year period. Projects managed range in value up to £250m and include public and private investment, manufacturing, education, pharmaceutical, retail development, residential and sports facilities. David takes responsibility for ensuring that contracts are completed to the full satisfaction of the client focusing on quality, cost, and programme through effective strategic planning, constructive management of multidisciplinary teams, and proactive risk management. Other skills include Business Cases preparation, Economic Appraisals, Feasibility Studies and Option Appraisals, Contract and Appointment administration.

CONSULTANT
Michael Scullion Dip QS MRICS ASCS MAPM

Joining the firm in 1977, Michael has risen through the ranks of WH Stephens to take the role of Managing Partner, Managing Director and Chairman of the Group in 2003. 35 years of experience operating as a key player in the NI construction industry affords Michael a unique understanding of the needs of both public and private sector clients and an innate ability to deliver a successful cost management solution to a wide variety of schemes. Michael continues to develop the service offered by WH Stephens to adapt to changes in the procurement and contractual environment to ensure all clients receive the optimum advice and service expected of a firm operating since 1865. Economic appraisals, design monitoring, and value management are only a few of the areas of Michael’s specific expertise from an exemplar professional career.

CONSULTANT
Billy Wallace Dip QS MRICS MAPM

Since joining WH Stephens in 1983, Billy’s surveying and cost management acumen has been recognised by his election to the Partnership in 1996 and the chairman in 2018. With an impressive record of construction experience spanning almost 30 years, Billy has successfully implemented cost and value management on a broad range of schemes from residential to retail, public realm regeneration to higher education facilities. From feasibility study to final account, Billy provides excellent contemporary guidance to his clients throughout their construction project whether procured under a traditional form or a multi-stage Design and Build format or alternative routes such as Management Contracting.

QUANTITY SURVEYING ASSOCIATE
Tim O’Neill Dip QS MRICS

Tim joined WH Stephens in 1987 and became a Quantity Surveying Associate in 1992. In addition to his in-depth knowledge of the cost management of private sector projects across the UK over the past 25 years, Tim has cultivated a particular specialty within large-scale education, health care, and public realm improvement schemes. Tim further supports the firm through his central role as IT Manager.

QUANTITY SURVEYING ASSOCIATE
Stephen Christie MRICS

Stephen joined WH Stephens in 1986 and was appointed as a Quantity Surveying Associate in 1992. With experience gained from the effective cost management of an impressive range of public and private sector projects, Stephen brings to each of his projects a detailed knowledge of the commercial and contractual procedures required for successful project delivery within budget.

QUANTITY SURVEYING ASSOCIATE
Kevin Gibney BSc (Hons) MRICS

Kevin began at the firm in 1999 and was promoted to Quantity Surveying Associate at WH Stephens in 2007. With a particular specialty in complex Health sector projects, Kevin offers extensive experience in all aspects of pre-and post-contract cost management across all industry areas. Kevin has worked effectively with a wide variety of clients from both the public and private sectors and is adept at providing a flexible Quantity Surveying service tailored to their individual requirements and goals.

BUILDING SURVEYOR ASSOCIATE
Alistair McCormick BSc (Hons) MRICS

Alistair joined WH Stephens in 2018, becoming an Associate Building Surveyor in 2020 after working for a commercial property and real estate consultant in London. Alistair has gained a breadth of experience working within commercial, residential, and domestic properties on behalf of private and public sector clients. Alistair provides a range of building surveying services and is experienced in condition surveys, dilapidations and project management of refurbishment, repair, and maintenance works offering design, specification, and contract administration services. Other work includes defect analysis and technical advice, preparation of planned maintenance schedules, and applications for planning and building regulations approval. Alistair assists Graeme Kerr in the delivery of Building Surveying services within WH Stephens.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATE
Michael McPhillips BSc (Hons) QS MRICS MSCSI MAPM

Michael McPhillips is a dedicated construction professional with 28 years of experience across multiple sectors providing Project Management, Quantity Surveying, and Facilities Management services. Michael joined WH Stephens IN 2018 after spending 16 years as an Associate Project Manager working on construction projects throughout Europe. In recent years, Michael has been involved more centrally in the provision of Project Management services, taking the lead role on a number of commercial, retail, leisure, industrial, and healthcare projects.

Michael has worked effectively with a wide variety of clients from both the public and private sectors and is adept at providing a flexible project management service tailored to each client’s individual requirements.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
Michael Murray BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MICE NECREG

Michael joined WH Stephens in 2021 and became a Director in 2022. Michael is a Project Management Director, with 17 years of experience in the construction industry. Michael, a Chartered Engineer, has extensive experience of delivering infrastructure and built environment projects across several sectors including commercial, education, healthcare, transportation, public realm, retail and sports facilities.

Michael specialises in a providing a holistic Project Management service, overseeing delivery of projects through management of multi-disciplinary teams. Michael acts as Project Manager / Contract Administrator on behalf of Clients in the delivery of construction contracts and is an accredited NEC3 / NEC4 Project Manager.

BUILDING SURVEYING ASSOCIATE
Noel Carr BSc (Hons) Building Surveying, PG Dip Project Management

Noel Carr is a Senior Project Manager with 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Noel has worked across a wide range of diverse projects including educational new builds, listed buildings, retail new builds, renovations and refurbishment, office and shop fit-outs, domestic projects, demolitions and service upgrades, and roads. More recently Noel has been involved in the provision of Project Management services, taking the lead role on a number of commercial, retail, and industrial projects.

BUILDING SURVEYING ASSOCIATE
William McCartney BSc (Hons) MRICS NECREG

William joined WH Stephens in 2014, becoming Associate in 2021. William is an experienced Project and Cost Manager with a proven track record in a varied portfolio of projects in both the public and private sectors. William works in close co-operation with the firm’s directors to deliver the highest quality of service to our clients. William is also an accredited NEC4 Project Manager.