It may seem like there is nothing but the pandemic, Brexit divorce bills and Trump’s bid to cling on to his presidency in the headlines at the moment, but there has been some good news across the board for our sectors.
While the world continues to adapt to the “new normal”, there have been absolutely loads of career moves and promotions. So let’s take a look at the movers and shakers in transport and infrastructure from September…
Arcadis
Have announced the appointment of Virginie Duperat-Vergne as its new Chief Financial Officer, also beginning a four-year term on the group’s executive board. Duperat-Vergne was nominated by the Arcadis supervisory board in July and replaces Sarah Kuijlaars, who resigned in March.
Arcadis have also appointed Debbie Francis as the new City Executive for the Northern region. Francis will also represent Arcadis on the board of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. She joins Arcadis from Direct Rail Services, where she was Managing Director for four years.
Mace
Ben Wheeldon joins as Euston Station JV Programme Director. He joins from Heathrow where he has been PMO Director, Solutions.
Northern
Jack Commandeur joins as Engineering Director. He leaves Hitachi Rail where he has been since 2015 most recently as Group Director Service & Maintenance Engineering.
Yorkshire Water
Mark Francis Taylor has been appointed as Executive Director HSE. He leaves Chemring Group where he was Group Director Health, Safety, Security & Environment.
Stadler Rail
Have appointed Paul Patrick as its first UK Engineering Director. Patrick will oversee Stadler’s five live contracts up and down the country, reporting to Rob Baxter, UK Managing Director. Patrick was previously Head of Fleet Engineering at Nexus
Unipart Rail
Neil Walker is moving from MTR Europe where he has been European Business Development Executive to become Managing Director of Unipart Rail & Unipart Manufacturing Group to replace Noel Travers who is leaving.
Pod-Trak
Andrew Gardner has joined as Operations Director. He was previously an Operations Director at VolkerFitzpatrick.
nmcn
CEO, John Homer has stepped down. Has been succeeded on a temporary basis by group chairman Robert Moyle. Non-Executive Director Ian Elliott will assume the role of Chairman on a temporary basis.
Vip Gandhi has also been announced as the new Managing Director of its highways business unit. Gandhi previously worked Jacobs for over 20 years, latterly as Vice President of Highways & Transportation Infrastructure.
The Rail Delivery Group
After four years as Chair of RDG, Chris Burchell’s term has come to an end. He is replaced by Steve Montgomery, Managing Director First Rail, after being unanimously endorsed by the RDG Board.
In a move delayed from last Autumn, chief executive, Paul Plummer, will retire as CEO at the end of the year. Jacqueline Starr will lead Service Delivery and be overall RDG Chief Executive Officer and Andy Bagnall will lead Advocacy & Change as RDG Director General.
SSE
Have appointed Chris Burchell as the new Managing Director for its electricity distribution business, SSEN Distribution. He will succeed Colin Nicol who, earlier this year, announced his intention to leave SSE in April 2021. Burchell joins from Arriva, where he has been Managing Director – UK Trains for the last six years.
British Land
Have announced that Simon Carter will succeed Chris Grigg as Chief Executive. Carter moves internally from his role as Chief Financial Officer.
Eurostar
Eurostar shareholders unanimously appointed Jacques Damas as Chief Executive Officer following the news that current CEO Mike Cooper will join Arriva as Group CEO.
VINCI Highways
Belen Marcos has been appointed Chair of VINCI Highways, VINCI Concessions’ road mobility subsidiary, and Executive Vice President of VINCI Concessions. Marcos has occupied various roles at Ferrovial and was recently President of CINTRA US.
Currie & Brown
Mark Syrett joins as Regional Managing Director (London & South East). He leaves Gleeds where he has been since 2017, most recently as Senior Director.
Angel Trains
Malcolm Brown has returned to Angel Trains as CEO this week, after more than two years with AMP Capital (one of the shareholders in Angel Trains) as a Partner in its infrastructure asset management business. Brown previously held the position of CEO between 2008 and 2018.
Anglian Water
Mark Malcolm joins as Programme Director Major Infrastructure. He leaves Black & Veatch following four years as Director of Delivery.
South Western Railway
Jonathan Roberts joins as Finance Director. He leaves Cross Country Trains where he has been since 2010, latterly as Franchise Change Director.
First Group
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of FirstGroup’s UK bus division, has announced his retirement. He will be succeeded by Janette Bell who joins the group in October. Bell leaves P&O Ferries where she has been since 2012, most recently as Chief Executive.
Chiltern Railways
Have announced the appointment of Richard Allan as its new Managing Director. Allan, formerly People & Strategy Director and Deputy Managing Director at Northern Trains Limited, will join the train operator in early October.
MTR UK
Following news that Jeremy Long would retire from his post as Chief Executive Officer for the European business at MTR, Steve Murphy, who is currently Managing Director of MTR Elizabeth line, has been appointed CEO for the UK.
Richard Schofield has assumed the role of Interim Managing Director of MTR Elizabeth line.
Nichols Group
Former Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, Simon Kirby, has been appointed Managing Partner of the Nichols Group. Kirby joined Nichols in 2018 as Associate Senior Advisor.
Eversholt Rail
Tim Durham is to join Eversholt as Business Development Director. He has previously worked on train financing at Angel Trains, Lloyds Rail and Macquarie and has most recently been Senior Special Advisor at Akiem Group.
Cundall
Have appointed Kevin Hayes as Managing Partner of its London office, taking over from Steve Cook, who is moving into a financial management role overseeing Cundall’s global business whilst continuing his project involvement in London. Hayes joined Cundall as a senior engineer in 1997 and became a Partner eight years ago.
Imtech
Gautier Jacob is to become UK Chief Executive of Imtech, following the announcement that current boss Paul Kavanagh is due to retire after 27 years at the firm he jointly founded. Jacob moves internally from his role as Group Strategy Director and prior to joining Imtech in 2019 he was CEO of EDF Energy Services.
Mike Harris has also announced that he will leave his position as Managing Director of Imtech Engineering Services at the end of October.
Turner & Townsend
Anooj Oodit has been appointed to the role of Managing Director for Asia. He succeeds Duncan Stone, who is retiring after 18 years with the business. Oodit has been Managing Director Australia and New Zealand since 2015.
FM Conway
Have named Adam Green as its new Chief Executive. Green replaces Michael Conway, who is stepping into the role of Chairman having been at the helm since 1981. Green joined FM Conway in November 2019 as Managing Director for Civil Engineering, Structures, Lighting, Water and Drainage Management, Traffic Management & Consultancy.
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty has appointed Tracey Wood as its General Counsel and Company Secretary. She joins after 14 years at Costain, where she was responsible for legal, company secretariat, HR and internal audit and risk.
Thames Water
Tania Flasck joins as Head of Water Networks Thames Valley. She leaves Turner & Townsend where she has been Director, Head of Infrastructure Central South.
Kier
Have announced the appointment of Alison Atkinson to its board of directors. The appointment will take effect on 15 December 2020. Atkinson is the Chief Executive Officer of AWE plc.
They have also appointed former Network Rail executive Helen Samuels to a new senior role in its construction business. Samuels, currently CEO of Bibby Marine, will join the contractor as Technical Director in January, where she will lead on issues including improving the firm’s use of data and design.
WSP
Louise Lawrence has joined as Head of Discipline Intelligent Transport. She leaves Atkins where she has been for the last 11 years, most recently as Director – Intelligent Mobility and Smart Technologies.
United Utilities
Kevin Fowlie moves internally to become Commercial, Engineering & Capital Delivery Director. Fowlie joined United Utilities in 2019 and has most recently been Network Delivery Director.
c2c
Ben Ackroyd has joined c2c as Managing Director succeeding Julian Drury who has retired. Ackroyd leaves Northern where he has been Engineering Director at Northern, he previously worked for the c2c as Engineering Director between 2011 and 2015.
Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal
Former HR Director at Ofcom, Janet Campbell, has joined as the new HR Director for the Delivery Authority. She has most recently been working as an independent consultant.
Making any changes to your senior teams? Many of our clients are making use of our talent mapping service to explore the market before committing to an executive search. Get in touch to see how we can help.
