McGivern joined the Australian development company in January 2006. She took up the chief executive role in September last year, three months before the company was taken over by Canadian asset management group Brookfield for £3.4billion.

It has been reported that she exercised an option in her contract to step down due to the takeover by Brookfield.

No replacement has ben announced but it is thought UK chairman James Tuckey, who has been working on a part time basis for the company, will return to Multiplex full time.

It is thought McGivern will continue to act as a consultant on the group's Gibraltar interests in a non-executive capacity.

Multiplex will reportedly change its name to Brookfield this year.