We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new board members to strengthen COEL’s offer and further emphasise our commitment to delivering high quality design and fit-out projects in the regions. 

The last few years have seen us refine our offer, to concentrate on offices and labs, and to expand geographically, with projects currently on site in Oxford, London and Norwich as well as many progressing well on home turf in Cambridge.  

To support our ambitious growth plans, we have appointed a new Chairman and Construction Director. With both of them being honoured with MBEs for their services to business and our country – they come recommended at the highest possible level! 

John Watkinson joins us as Non-Executive Chairman of the board 

With 25 years’ experience in retail, including notable positions as Chief Executive for The Hamleys Group (toys) and Jones Bootmaker (shoes), John also has extensive experience of the shopfitting retail space, having worked as Operations Director and Head of Furniture for Wallis and Habitat.  

Since then, John has spent more than twenty years in non-executive board positions for blue chip and SME companies and is currently non-executive chairman for four different SMEs based in the East of England.  

As a qualified leadership coach with fifteen years’ coaching experience working with over 100 CEOs from £1m to £1bn in revenues, he brings with him extensive expertise in implementing growth strategies, evolving company culture and developing talent at all levels within business. 

“Joining COEL offers a great opportunity to support and collaborate with Alistair and David, who have worked with me as their leadership coach previously. There is already an exceptional culture within COEL, and to build on this to assist them in organising, focusing and delivering the potential of the business is my ultimate goal. I’m looking forward to seeing COEL achieving its potential and developing the talent at all levels of the orgainsation.”  

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Richard Brent, joins COEL as Construction Director, a newly formed role to enhance operational quality and strengthen efficiency across the design and build process 

Starting out his career as a labourer on a building site, Richard completed a degree in Civil Engineering at Birmingham University. This led to a brief tenure at Ove Arup and Partners in their roads and transport infrastructure design office.  

Richard then joined the Royal Engineers and served for more than 20 years, gaining extensive operational experience in the Gulf, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and serving with NATO’s Strategic Command. As an instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Commanding Officer of 39 Engineer Regiment, Richard had overall responsibility for 897 men and women.  

At that time, 39 Engineer Regiment was the largest regiment in the British Army, playing a critical role in providing construction support to both the army and the Royal Air Force – at one point across thirteen countries. As a result of his service, Richard received an MBE for his service to bomb disposal in Afghanistan, and to UK counterterrorism. 

Upon leaving the army, Richard has since spent time as the Bursar at St Faith’s in Cambridge. Here he was responsible for overseeing all the school’s support functions, driving several major capital projects, and devising and leading a comprehensive business transformation program that delivered significant improvements across all areas of the school’s operations.  

Richard’s extensive involvement in strategic planning, leadership, operational efficiency, and business transformation, will support COEL’s growth and evolution and drive long-term sustainability. Add to this his expertise in managing complex operations, delivering results under pressure, and completing high-impact projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards, aligns with COEL’s commitment to excellence. 

“What excites me most about the future of COEL is the company’s vision for development and growth. COEL is poised for expansion, and its focus on innovation, quality, and operational excellence presents incredible opportunities for both the company and its client base.  

“The commitment to nurturing talent, fostering strong office and client relationships, and embracing new challenges is inspiring. I believe COEL is in a unique position to lead in delivering exceptional projects while maintaining a strong, people-centred culture. The potential for success, both in terms of business and impact, is immense, and I look forward to contributing to this exciting future.”  

Speaking of appointing John and Richard to join the board of directors at COEL, CEO, Alistair Rumbelow adds:  

“2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for COEL. We have been working hard in recent years to refine our service offer, develop closer relationships with our clients and partners across our regions, and to invest in the right team to support our continued growth.   

Bringing John and Richard on board is a big step in the right direction for us. Their considerable experience in operating businesses, leading teams and nurturing development, will help us to steer COEL towards its ambitious targets this year, and our continued success for years to come.”