One announcement above all others dominated this week’s people moves in construction.
On Wednesday (5 March), the UK’s biggest contractor Balfour Beatty revealed that Leo Quinn was stepping down as chief executive after 10 years in the role.
He will be succeeded by AtkinsRéalis chief operating officer Philip Hoare from September.
Leo Quinn
Balfour Beatty said that Quinn will continue in an advisory capacity for several months to ensure a seamless transition.
During Quinn’s tenure, the firm strengthened its balance sheet from average net debt of £371m in 2014 to £735m average net cash in 2024, the company said.
Quinn joined Balfour Beatty in January 2015 after five years as chief executive at defence technology firm QinetiQ.
Before then, he spent four years as chief executive of banknote manufacturer De La Rue, was chief operating officer at Invensys from 2001 to 2004, and served as president of enterprise solutions at technology firm Honeywell from 1987 to 2000.
Hoare has spent his entire career at AtkinsRéalis and its predecessor firm Atkins, starting with its highways business in 1997.
Since then, he has held several senior leadership roles. These include managing director of transportation, chief executive for the UK and Europe, and president of engineering services for the UK and Europe, Canada, the Middle East and India.
Hoare moved to the newly created role of AtkinsRéalis’ chief operating officer in March 2024.
Elsewhere, the Major Projects Association (MPA) announced the appointment of Nirmal Kotecha as its new chair. He will succeed Emma Howard Boyd on 1 April.
Kotecha is a partner at consultancy Allora Infrastructure and ex-chair of the Infrastructure Client Group, a forum for industry and government.
His CV also includes executive roles at UK Power Networks as director of procurement from 2011 to 2024, and major projects director at the Highways Agency (now National Highways) from 2008 to 2011.
Kotecha is familiar with the MPA, having served as chair of its programme committee.
Tony Bray
Leeds-based contractor and developer Torsion Group announced the appointment of Tony Bray as investment and development director.
“Tony’s appointment strengthens our leadership team at a crucial time for the business. His knowledge of the BTR [build-to-rent] and PBSA [purpose-built student accommodation] sectors, combined with his strategic approach to development, will help us unlock new opportunities,” said Ed Wootton, managing director of Torsion Developments and Construction.
Bray joined Torsion after spending 12 years as owner of Manchester-based real estate consultancy PuRE. Before then, he served as a commercial partner at property consultancy Bruton Knowles (2017-18).
Law firm Clifford Chance announced the appointment of Iain Suttie as its new head of UK construction and real estate.
He joined the firm after seven years at Herbert Smith Freehills.
Suttie was previously associate director at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner from 2007 to 2018.
He succeeded Marianne Toghill, who was in the role for eight years.
Infrastructure consultancy Aecom has enlarged its London team with two appointments.
The firm named Alex Hammerton as head of project management and Aled Jenkins as regional director, as part of its ongoing efforts to support an anticipated increase in infrastructure investment and development across the capital.
Ten-year company veteran Hammerton will lead a 145-strong team, taking responsibility for service delivery, client partnerships, and growth on commercial and residential development projects, Aecom said.
Jenkins is a newcomer to Aecom, joining the firm after two years as operations director at Mace’s consultancy arm. Before then his career took him to the US with roles for consultancies Rider Levett Bucknall and Gleeds.
Aecom said he “will further reinforce and strengthen the growing cost team in London”.
