Movers and shakers: Biggest industry appointments in April 2021

A shake-up at the top of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), an incoming Transport for the North (TfN) boss and a new role for an ex-Crossrail chief are among April's high-profile appointments.

A round-up of the biggest moves and appointments during April is below.

To feature on next month’s appointments roundup, please email catherine.kennedy@emap.com

Hannah Vickers to leave ACE for role with Mace

The ACE has announced that its chief executive Hannah Vickers is stepping down to join construction firm Mace. She will join Mace in July as chief of staff where she will directly support chief executive Mark Reynolds and the company’s executive board in embedding its new 2026 business strategy.

Vickers joined the ACE in September 2018 from the Institution of Civil Engineers. Prior to this she worked for Infrastructure UK, part of HM Treasury and the Environment Agency.

TfN appoints new chief

The North’s leaders have approved the appointment of Martin Tugwell as the next chief executive of Transport for the North (TfN). He succeeds Barry White.

Tugwell has over 20 years’ experience in transport and investment senior leadership roles in the public sector and will join TfN from England’s Economic Heartland, the sub-national transport body for the region including Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire. He’s also the current president of the Chartered Institutuion of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).

Ex-Crossrail boss joins Laing O'Rourke

Former Crossrail chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme has been appointed by Laing O’Rourke as its Group technical director.

Wolstenholme will be responsible for the delivery of technical excellence for clients, enhancing the company’s digital capability and its health and safety priorities. He stepped down from Crossrail in March 2018 after seven years.

Ramboll names new UK managing director

Ramboll has promoted Philippa Spence to managing director of its 1,300 strong UK operation, two years after she joined the business as managing principal for the UK Environment & Health practice.

Spence takes up the chief role following Mathew Riley’s ascension from UK managing director to Ramboll’s group executive board with responsibility for the UK, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. She was previously a senior partner at environmental consultant ERM and sits on the advisory board of the Environmental Industries Commission.

New boss for Bam’s Scottish business

Bam Construction has promoted Jim Ward to chief executive of its business in Scotland. Ward replaces Bruce Dickson, who is taking up a new wider role within Royal Bam Group as transformation director for the UK and Ireland. Ward has spent 40 years at Bam, joining the business in 1980.

Morgan Sindall appoints non-executive director

Morgan Sindall has announced the appointment of Kathy Quashie as a non-executive director. Quashie is currently Vodafone enterprise indirect partnerships director. She is also a non-executive director and sits on the enterprise board of Transport for London Museum.

Costain technology chief joins new Atkins business

Atkins has appointed Costain director John Batterbee to lead its new applied technology practice, formed to meet growing demand for digital and technology capabilities across Atkins’ markets.

Batterbee has spent just over two and half years at Costain as technology solutions director, responsible for helping clients navigate digital disruption and realise the value of technology transformation.

Costain appoints Network Rail client director

Costain has appointed Ann-Marie Morrison as its Network Rail client director. Morrison will work collaboratively with Network Rail to plan and deliver complex programmes which are more effective, more efficient and create opportunities for local communities.

She has extensive experience supporting the delivery of high profile and complex major infrastructure projects and building strong relationships which create a culture of success.

Tilbury Douglas appoints head of digital

Tilbury Douglas has announced the appointment of a new head of digital to focus on the company’s digital transformation strategy and Modern Methods of Construction. Aneesa Mulla, who is currently digital construction strategic lead at the now renamed former Interserve business, will take up the new role focused on evolving digital transformation strategy.

Mulla has over 10 years' of experience working in the construction and design sector as a building information modelling specialist and team leader. Prior to Tilbury Douglas she worked as assistant lecturer in CAD at Birmingham City University.

Motts brings in TfL diversity boss

Frances McAndrew has joined Mott MacDonald as the company’s group head of inclusion and responsibility. McAndrew has spent over 20 years researching, leading and implementing employee diversity and inclusion strategies. Most recently lead for diversity and inclusion at Transport for London (TfL), she ran a programme of activity covering diversity and inclusion for its 27,000 people.

Thames Water appoints new capital delivery director

Francis Paonessa has joined Thames Water as capital delivery director. The appointment follows the recent recruitment of Warren Buckley as retail director and Cathryn Ross as strategy and regulatory affairs director.

Paonessa arrives from business and strategy consultancy Aczel, where he has been advising clients on a number of high profile projects in the defence and infrastructure sectors since 2019. He was previously managing director of infrastructure projects at Network Rail and was accountable for delivering £25bn of major renewal and enhancement schemes over the five year regulatory period

Tilbury Douglas appoints new regional MDs

Tilbury Douglas has appointed Richard Boeg as regional managing director for the southeast region of its UK building business. Boeg will lead on the company’s building and Paragon fit out business across London and the southeast.

John Gittins has also been promoted to regional managing director for the northern region, covering Scotland, Yorkshire and the North East, while Simon Butler has been promoted to lead the central region, covering the Midlands and South Wales.

Laing O’Rourke boss joins Waterman

Laing O’Rourke head of MEP Design and Engineering Simon Leonard has joined consultant Waterman as technical director of the building services team in London. He will assume the lead role on some of Waterman’s major projects, and will use his experience to support Waterman’s research into reducing carbon through off-site manufacture as part of its net zero advisory service.

Sweco adds to northern offices

Consulting engineer Sweco has added to its building standards division with the recruitment of three senior consultants in the north of England. Jason Foster joins the company’s Leeds office from Stroma as operations director. He has previously worked for Carillion and HCD Group.

Paul McClelland also joins the Leeds office from Stroma as commercial projects director. His previous positions include associate director level roles for Bureau Veritas Building Control and Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council. Thirdly, Andrew Marsden is joining Sweco’s Manchester office as principal building control surveyor, after 15 years working for local authorities and approved inspectors.

New chief to take Energy Institute forward

Nick Wayth has been appointed chief executive of the Energy Institute. Wayth was formerly chief development officer of Alternative Energy at BP.

Tetra Tech appoints new sustainability guru

Tetra Tech has appointed Sam McCloskey as director of its UK Sustainability and Climate Resilience practice. McCloskey holds 27 years’ experience in environmental consultancy, energy, and resource efficiency. She will support local authorities, central government/devolved administrations, large energy users, and energy and utility companies in achieving their net zero emission targets.

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre appoints T&T director as chair

The CSIC has appointed Andy Outram as its new chair, succeeding John Forster. Outram has worked in the UK’s construction industry for 35 years and is currently lead director for real estate in Scotland at Turner & Townsend.

NMCN new chief begins

Construction group NMCN has announced that its incoming chief executive will start work in May. Lee Marks was formerly group commercial director at NG Bailey. He succeeds John Homer, who was let go by the NMCN board at the end of September 2020. During the six-month interim, chairman Robert Moyle has been acting chief executive.

Nexus Planning appoints new team

Independent planning consultancy Nexus Planning has announced the launch of its national Nexus Infrastructure Planning team. The team will be headed up by Andrew Walters, newly appointed director of infrastructure planning, who joins from GL Hearn/Capita. With over 25 years’ experience, Walters will build on the consultancy’s existing infrastructure and energy expertise.

Typsa recruits transportation chief

Typsa has recruited Stephen Russell as its director for transportation in the UK and Ireland. Russell’s role will be to help build on the interesting and challenging work already being undertaken on landmark schemes such as High Speed 2, the A465 Heads of the Valley upgrade, DART Expansion Programme, and the Dublin Bus Corridor project.

Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here.