People Moves

The leadership of three of construction’s biggest charities is changing as two industry stalwarts announce their retirement. Lighthouse chief executive Bill Hill will retire at the end of this week, after more than a decade at the helm of the wellbeing support charity. CRASH boss Francesca Roberts, in charge since…

Wates has formally appointed a new managing director of its construction business. Steffan Battle has held the role in an interim capacity since October 2023, taking over from Mark Tant, who left the business after nine years in the post. Now Battle has been appointed to the job on a…

Willmott Dixon has appointed James Mackenzie as its new chief financial officer. Mackenzie (pictured), who has previously held senior positions at Balfour Beatty, Berkeley Group and Kier, will also join Willmott Dixon’s main board. He previously held the CFO post at Willmott Dixon’s joint-venture partnership with EcoWorld London for six…

Charles Banner KC will lead a major review into speeding up infrastructure projects, the government has announced. Banner, who is also a peer in the House of Lords, will examine whether nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) are “unduly held up by inappropriate legal challenges”, and how that could be “effectively…

John F Hunt has appointed Balfour Beatty regional build director Darren Potter as its new operations director. The Essex-headquartered demolition specialist said in a statement that Potter would add to the significant experience in the business and bring detailed knowledge of sectors including aviation, defence, HS2, infrastructure, rail, nuclear and…

NG Bailey has announced the departure of chief executive David Hurcomb after 14 years at the helm. Hurcomb will retire in May and be replaced by Jonathan Stockton, currently chief operating officer at the mechanical & electrical (M&E) contractor. Hurcomb joined the then £464m-turnover NG Bailey in 2010 from Havelock…

Sir Robert McAlpine has appointed a new managing director of transport and two new framework directors as it continues to rejig its executive team. Days after announcing the sudden departure of chief executive Paul Hamer, the family-owned contractor has named former Keltbray executive Vip Gandhi as its new managing director…

Balfour Beatty has announced that Anne Drinkwater will take on the position of senior independent non-executive director in May. She replaces Stephen Billingham, who will step down from the board after the next annual general meeting. Drinkwater has served as a non-executive director for Balfour since December 2018. She will…

Sir Gareth Rhys Williams has been appointed as chair of roads body National Highways. Williams was announced as chair following a “competitive selection process”. He replaces Dipesh Shah, who stepped down from his role at the end of 2023 when his three-year term came to an end. Williams joins from…

Sir Robert McAlpine has announced the sudden departure of chief executive Paul Hamer, and that he will be replaced with former Lendlease Europe boss Neil Martin. A statement shared by the contractor on Friday (16 February) said that Martin will start in post on Monday (19 February) and is joining…