Scott Leslie Joins Pace Group after Marcus Group Payment Controversy

Marcus Group’s former Construction Director, Scott Leslie, has commenced in a new position at Melbourne-based developer Pace.

Joining the boutique subsidiary of ABD Group in 2017, Leslie previously spent 12 years at Multiplex in roles such as Site Manager, Project Manager and Senior Project Manager. With a construction portfolio worth over $1 billion under his belt – including $300 million as project lead – Leslie brought a wealth of experience to the new construction firm.

Marcus Group was embroiled in a case of email fraud late last year after developer Bensons Property Group was defrauded of $917,900. Bensons received a fraudulent email in April 2018, purporting to be from Leslie, requesting that a progress payment for works on apartment projects in Armadale and Ivanhoe be made into a new account.

“Acting on that email, Bensons made an electronic funds transfer payment of $917,900 to the relevant CBA account,” said Bensons managing director Rick Curtis in a signed affidavit. It was only a week later, when Marcus Group contacted Bensons to discuss payment, that the fraudulent activity was discovered.

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The working relationship between Marcus Group and Bensons does not seem to have been affected, with Marcus Group announced this week as the builders of Bensons’ new $75 million Prahran apartment building, Anchor and Cecil.

Leslie, likely keen to leave the incident in the past, will have a full development slate in his new role. Pace has several residential developments underway across Melbourne, including sites in Collingwood, Abbotsford, Carnegie and Sunshine North.

Pace has also won heritage approval to move forward with their Flemington development, a unique horseshoe design featuring 300 residences – all with views overlooking the racetrack.

The developer has had less luck with its proposed $25 million Mount Waverley retirement home. After its original plans were rejected in November 2017, the site was briefly listed for sale before Pace submitted new plans for public review in February of this year.

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Header image source: Pace Development Group.