Topic Awards, People
Date 27 Feb 2026
Bill Hocking, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, has been named CEO of the Year by the prestigious plc Awards, which recognise the achievements of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market.
The award seeks to recognise the standout leader among FTSE100 and FTSE250 constituents, crediting their clear vision for the company, and strong and successful leadership of the business.
Bill was acknowledged for making a significant impact on Galliford Try in the last 12 months and since becoming Chief Executive in 2020. Last year, he led the delivery of the Group’s fifth year of revenue and profit growth, to £1.9bn and 3.0% respectively, including the achievement of the 3.0% margin target a year earlier than expected.
The business has delivered 352% total shareholder returns for the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025 with the share price rising from 103p on 3 January 2020 to in excess of 530p. The Group subsequently made its debut to the FTSE250 as a standalone construction business in October 2025.
Bill has led this strong financial performance while championing Galliford Try’s vision to be a people-orientated, progressive business, driven by values, reflected in a record high employee advocacy score of an 87%.
He has embedded an ethos of Doing the right thing by all stakeholders and established a disciplined approach to risk management and contract selection, which has resulted in a high quality record £4.1bn order book, 93% of which is with repeat clients.
In recognition of this, Galliford Try was also named a finalist for Company of the Year, showcasing that “success is not a short-term phenomenon”.
Commenting on his win, Bill said: “I’m honoured to receive this recognition, which really belongs to everyone in Galliford Try. The hard work, commitment to safety, and successful delivery of our projects is earning Galliford Try recognition as a leader in construction, and among the very best of UK companies, and I count myself fortunate to work with such an excellent team, who continue to raise the bar.”