Building services firm Rok plc has appointed Robin Olorenshaw as the company's chief operating officer.
John Samuel, Rok's operations director, has stepped down as a board director and leaves Rok with immediate effect.

Rob Olorenshaw is now responsible for support service functions including IT, supply chain, customer relations and human resources. He will join the company's board as an executive director on January 1, 2009. Olorenshaw joined Rok in 2006 as its group people director and has been operations director for the Bank of Ireland UK Financial Services, and customer service director for HBOS Financial Services.

As previously reported, the Exeter-based Rok group decided to get rid of 750 jobs, after projects worth more than £150 million were shelved or cancelled by its public and private clients due to the economic downturn.

Stephen Pettit, Rok's chairman, said: 'Rob's appointment to the Rok executive management team is an excellent addition and we are confident that he will help to increase efficiency and effectiveness across the business'.

The company said the creation of the role of chief operating officer reflects its increasing emphasis on and importance of planned and response maintenance alongside the group's construction activities. The firm also said Olorenshaw's appointment and the creation of the new role will also enable Garvis Snook, chief executive, to have a greater active day-to-day role within the company's business and with its regional managing directors.

Pettit added: 'On behalf of the team at Rok, I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Samuel for the substantial contribution he has made and to wish him well in his future endeavours.'