Former managing director of Cantillon Paul Cluskey has won his appeal to continue as a director of the demolition contractor after being handed a four-and-a-half-year ban by the Competition and Markets Authority for involvement in cover pricing agreements.

Cluskey, 49, signed a ‘company disqualification undertaking’ with the CMA last February, admitting involvement in three cover-bidding incidents.

Following this he applied for permission to remain a director of Cantillon, supported by the firm’s owner Morrisroe Group.

Subject to a series of conditions, the High Court granted Cluskey leave to continue to act as a director, and take part in the management of Cantillon.

The conditions included Cluskey having no role in the management of A J Morrisroe or GSS Piling and him stepping down as managing director of Cantillon.

In a statement from Morrisroe Group, which bought Cantillon in 2020, a spokeswoman said: “Judge Burton considered that the package of competition compliance measures offered by Cantillon – including a competition law compliance training programme for key personnel, the appointment to the board of new executive directors, a new non-executive director to supervise competition compliance and the introduction of a tender evaluation panel – were comprehensive, and in her view provided potentially industry-leading competition compliance standards.

“Cantillon cooperated fully with the CMA throughout its investigation and fully supports the important work that it undertakes.

“Cantillon is committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and competition compliance.”