Movers and shakers: Biggest construction and engineering appointments in March 2023

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A round up of the biggest moves and appointments during March is below. To feature on next month’s appointments roundup email robert.hakimian@emap.com

Former East West Rail boss joins National Highways

Simon Blanchflower has been appointed as non-executive director on the board of National Highways. Blanchflower was previously chief executive of East West Rail Company, but stepped down in March 2022 after having successfully established it. His career has seen him in leadership roles in many rail infrastructure projects, including being major programme director on the Thameslink Programme.

Blanchflower was awarded a CBE in 2019 for services to the rail industry and is a fellow of the ICE. He is also currently deputy chair of the London Legacy Development Corporation and is on the boards of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.

Environment Agency appoints new chair

Philip Duffy has taken over from Sir James Bevan as chief executive of the Environment Agency. Duffy has had a long career in the civil service, most recently as director general of growth and productivity at HM Treasury and in 2016 was awarded a CBE for his work as chief operating officer at the Border Force.

Bevan has now stepped down from the role but Duffy does not commence in the position until 1 July – Environment Agency executive director for local operations John Curtin will be chief executive in the interim.

New market director for net zero at Atkins

Atkins has installed Sarah Long as its new market director for net zero energy in its EMEA region for its nuclear and power business. Long has been with Atkins for over 20 years and since 2019 has been head of strategy for low carbon project delivery in the nuclear and power business. Her prior experience has seen her work in offshore industries, aerospace and defence, as well as leading on hydrogen across the SNC-Lavalin Group.

More Atkins appointments boost infrastructure division

Atkins has also snapped up a trio of talents to assist in its infrastructure growth ambitions; Andrew Jones, Richard Bonner and Deb Upadhyaya have all joined its infrastructure division.

Jones was formerly head of cities and a board member at Aecom. He joins Atkins as senior service line director, planning and consenting.

Bonner takes up the role of market director for the buildings and places team, while Upadhyaya has moved from Homes England into a newly-created role that will drive the agenda of creating thriving places and support the northern cities project team.

Aecom strengthens environment division in Europe and India with director appointment

Aecom has appointed Robert Noden as its strategy and growth director for its environment, water and energy (EWE) business line in Europe and India. Noden has over 20 years of experience working with industry, government and energy and in his new role will develop EWE’s client account management, sector and work-winning teams. It is the first key external hire for Aecom’s new EWE business line.

Cowi floats offshore expert to North America

Cowi in North America has hired Charlie Nordstrom to its renewable energy team, where he will continue to advance cutting edge offshore wind technology. Nordstrom has had a career in naval architecture for over 20 years, with a focus on floating offshore wind systems. He has led the design, deployment and testing of the world’s first offshore airborne wind turbine in his time as head of offshore for Alphabet’s Google X/Makani project. He has also previously played a leading role in the development and engineering of the PelaStar tension-leg platform, among other floating wind projects.

Top (L-R): Andrew Jones, Ben Plowden, Sarah Long, Deb Upadhyaya /  Bottom (L-R): Robert Noden, Richard Bonner, Charlie Nordstrom, Simon Blanchflower

Transport Planning Society elects new chair

Ben Plowden has been appointed as the new chair of the Transport Planning Society and will serve a two-year term. Plowden is an associate at PA Consulting, an associate at LSE Cities and a visiting professor at the UCL Centre for Transport Studies. He has a career stretching back over 20 years that has seen him holding a number of senior transport planning and sponsorship roles at Transport for London and he was the founding chief executive of the national charity Living Streets.

New head of HSEQ at Kilkern

Infrastructure specialist Kilkern has appointed Martin Gallagher as head of health, safety, environment and quality compliance (HSEQ). He will take responsibility for HSEQ matters across Kilkern’s business which includes national vacuum excavation, labour supply and civil engineering and highways infrastructure specialisms. Gallagher was previously head of safety and compliance at Network Plus Services and has over 30 years of experience in the UK civil engineering and construction sector.

Hansford appointed as TEDI-London chair

The Engineering and Design Institute London (TEDI-London) has welcomed Peter Hansford as its new chair of the board of directors. He was awarded a CBE in 2020 for services to civil engineering and brings over 40 years of experience in civil engineering and infrastructure to his role at the only London-based higher education provider wholly dedicated to teaching engineering. Hansford has previously been ICE president in 2011, was chair of Engineers Without Borders UK from 2011 to 2017 and was the government’s senior construction adviser between 2012 and 2015. He is a fellow of the ICE.

Nuclear trailblazer joins iSH

iSH (Industrial Solutions Hub) has appointed Miranda Kirschel as regional representative. Kirschel was the founder and leader of Women in Nuclear UK and was awarded an MBE for services to equal opportunities in the nuclear industry. She has previously held roles as Atkins head of European business development and been an executive at EY. Kirschel will help iSH transform communities across West Cumbria through employment opportunities that increase the region’s capability.

Costain picks winner for business winning role

Jason Jones has been appointed to lead the business winning function of the natural resources division at Costain. This will see him work closely with the sector directors and key account directors to develop customer and industry relationships and grow new and existing business across energy, water, defence and nuclear.

EngineeringUK appoints new chair

Iain Conn has been appointed as the new chair of EngineeringUK. Conn is a chemical engineer by training and has over 30 years of executive experience in the energy sector in roles at BP and Centrica. He has also held non-executive roles at Rolls-Royce and BT. He will take over from current chair Malcolm Brinded from 1 October.

Keyline boosts delivery capability with new dedicated team

Keyline Civils Specialists has created a new technical support team to help drive greater value for major infrastructure projects by fostering earlier collaboration between suppliers, distributors and customers. The new department has seen the appointment of two technical development managers (TDM) and the firm’s first ever in-house civil engineer. TDM for the south is Rob Sanders, who has worked for the Travis Perkins group for over 17 years. TDM for the north is Leanne Costello, who has built up technical expertise in roles at SIG, Saint Gobain, CCF and Knauf. Serena Solanki is appointed as civil engineer following roles as site engineer for Morgan Sindall and net zero lead for National Highways.

London mayor’s development corporation gets new executive director

The mayor of London’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) has appointed Gareth Blacker as executive director of delivery. He joins from Homes England, where he was director of strategic development and infrastructure, and will lead OPDC’s growing delivery role in the regeneration of the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area, which will bring forward 25,000 new homes.

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