Metricon founder Mario Biasin dies

The soccer-loving entrepreneur who founded the Metricon home building empire has passed away.

Businessman Mario Biasin, who founded the country’s biggest home builder, Metricon, and was its chief executive, has unexpectedly died.

The 71-year-old Mr Biasin jointly founded the business in 1976, growing it to become an industry leader, and one of the most prominent on the national landscape.

Longstanding director and major shareholder Ross Palazzesi will continue with the business as acting executive chair. Director and general manager of Victoria, Peter Langfelder, has been appointed as acting CEO.

Mr Palazzesi expressed his personal grief, as well as that of directors and Metricon staff.

“As friends and colleagues of Mario, we are shocked and so saddened by the news. Our hearts and thoughts are with the Biasin family,” he said.

“We will ensure Metricon Homes continues all operations and on-site construction as usual during a very emotional time.”

Metricon Homes employs about 2500 staff across Australia’s eastern seaboard where 4000 houses are under construction.

This afternoon we are mourning the sudden and unexpected death of company Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mario Biasin. Mario jointly founded Metricon in 1976, growing it to become an industry leader. Our hearts and thoughts are with the Biasin family. pic.twitter.com/BKznoZT0qx

— Metricon Homes (@MetriconHomes) May 16, 2022

Mr Biasin also had a long history with football club Melbourne Victory.

“Melbourne Victory Football Club is shocked, devastated and heartbroken upon hearing the news of the passing of Mario Biasin,” Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said. Mr Biasin was a shareholder and director of the club for over 16 years.

“He has always provided sage counsel to our staff, management and the board and his football passion will live on forever,” Mr Di Pietro said.

Mr Biasin is survived by his wife Glenda and four adult children Jason, Michelle Cresfield, Bradley and Brent as well as their spouses and children.

Metricon in March told staff and customers it was not experiencing financial problems, saying it was a victim of industry rumour mongering, amid rising costs and competition for workers to complete projects.

Higher residential property prices and government subsidies have prompted a surge in home building but for many construction companies it has been a profitless boom as they are hit by rising costs.

Metricon Homes ranked as Australia’s largest builder in 2021 for the sixth year in a row. The company reported 6052 starts, a 33 per cent increase from the previous year.

The private company, which is biggest in Victoria and Queensland but also has operations in NSW and South Australia, is an industry fixture but has kept a low public profile.

Last September when it was recognised as the top home builder, based on the number of home builds commenced for the year, Mr Biasin acknowledged the tough operating environment.

The home builder last year sought to renegotiate building contracts where initial time frames had run out, to account for higher costs in some areas, including Queensland. But it then reversed the move and is completing the homes at the original costs.

Originally published as Metricon founder Mario Biasin dies