Builder could lose golden ticket to Google's King Cross chocolate factory

BAM Construct says HQ faces 'at least' three-year delay

Google will not start work on its swanky London headquarters for another three years, the head of the firm which won the main contract for its construction has admitted.

It is now likely that BAM Construct will lose the contract to build the Kings Cross HQ, as it may be put out to tender.

In the annual report, Graham Cash, chief exec of the contractor, said it was "disappointing" to see the start date of the build pushed back to 2017.

Camden Council has already granted planning permission for the massive 950,000 square feet building, but Mountain View seems intent on pursuing ever grander plans.

It is understood to have torn up the original plans and encouraged architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris to be more ambitious in their design.

A spokesperson for Google said: “King’s Cross is our future home in London. As we raise our ambitions on what we can achieve in King’s Cross, this will inevitably take some additional time.”

Dan Cobley, Google's former managing director of UK advertising sales, has been booted up the ranks and will take on the new role of vice president of brand solutions in EMEA.

He will be replaced by Eileen Naughton, who is currently vice president of global sales with Google in New York. She will take control of its £3.6bn-a-year UK sales operation.

“After more than a two-and-a-half years leading Google in the UK, I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading Google’s growing brand business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, helping businesses market their brands online,” Cobley said.

Not a bad promotion for this former Pepsi marketer. But who in their right mind would want the plug-ugly acronym EMEA in their job title? Answers below please. ®