Own the Build Leadership Series #1: Mark Sheridan, Commercial Director at BAM (£3.5bn Contractor)

We’re launching a new monthly Leadership Series on Own the Build — spotlighting the journeys, mindsets and behaviours behind world-class Commercial Directorship in construction.For the first episode, Paul is joined by Mark Sheridan, Commercial Director of Commercial Services at BAM UK & Ireland, one of the UK’s largest Tier 1 contractors.Mark shares his 25-year journey from graduate QS to Commercial Director — not as a linear career plan, but as a series of small, deliberate steps driven by curiosity, imagination and a desire to make things better. Along the way, he reflects on staying with one organisation while constantly evolving roles, building influence without chasing titles, and why long-term opportunity matters more than short-term gain.The conversation also looks forward, exploring what great commercial leadership looks like in 2026, including:the difference between commercial management and commercialism;why freeing up QS time is the biggest untapped opportunity in construction;how imagination, not just process, drives better outcomes;moving the industry from cost-focused thinking to value-led decision making; andwhy relationships, trust and understanding the “why” matter more than ever.This episode sets the tone for the series: honest, reflective and practical — aimed at QSs with ambitions to become Commercial Directors, and at existing CDs who want to benchmark what good really looks like in the next phase of the industry.---------------------------------📥 Plus: Grab Paul’s free new eBook Mastering Construction Procurement — link below:Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial SuccessSend us Fan MailWant to connect with Paul?Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link. C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.