As 2025 heads into its final weeks, organisations across the construction, infrastructure and engineering sectors have reshaped their senior teams to align with new strategic priorities. November saw a wave of appointments spanning contractors, consultants, clients and industry bodies.
John Sisk & Son has created the new role of chief operating officer – infrastructure, appointing Leo Martin to lead its Infrastructure Division from January 2026. The division will bring together Sisk Infrastructure and the recently acquired Farrans business, with existing managing directors reporting into Martin.
The Royal Academy of Engineering has named Dame Tamara Finkelstein as its next chief executive to steer delivery of its Strategy 2030. She will take over from Hayaatun Sillem, who is stepping down after eight years as CEO and more than two decades with the academy.
WSP has strengthened its major projects capability by appointing Sharif Narouz as major programme director for the UK and Ireland. Narouz brings senior client-side experience from schemes including Crossrail and Transport for London.
Aecom has appointed Graham Hall as client director, defence, UK & Europe. The former Royal Navy commissioned officer will focus on building and maintaining strategic relationships with defence clients, including the UK Ministry of Defence.
Rail Freight Group has expanded its board with the election of Ralph Goldney of Railfreight Consulting at its AGM on 12 November 2025. At the same meeting, Richard Hastings, head of logistics at Nestlé UK & Ireland, was re-elected to the board.
Civil engineering contractor Barhale has implemented a significant senior management reshuffle. Former northern regional director James Ingamells becomes chief operating officer, while Mark Wood takes on the role of regional director for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, supporting Strabag on United Utilities’ 110km pipeline rehabilitation scheme in the North West.
Barhale has also appointed Johannes Esterhuyse as Yorkshire regional director to bolster leadership and client support across the north. In addition, Jonathan Moxom becomes Midlands regional director, returning to the UK to lead the contractor’s newly created Midlands region.
The Department for Transport Operator (DfTO), the government body bringing private train operators into public ownership ahead of Great British Railways, has appointed Alex Hynes as chief executive. Hynes’ background in both the rail industry and the Department for Transport is expected to support the government’s aim of better integrating track and train to improve passenger services.
Galliford Try has promoted Cliff Wheatley to its executive board as divisional managing director, building, effective 1 January 2026. The move forms part of an internal succession plan ahead of the current post-holder’s retirement in mid-2026, with Jeremy Barnett stepping into Wheatley’s previous role.
AtkinsRéalis has created a new power & industrial market for the UK and Ireland and appointed Ryan Macdonald as market director. The remit brings together services across energy networks, power and renewables, energy storage, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and industrial clients.
Mace Consult has named Zoe Price as managing director for Europe. She will oversee growth and delivery across the region, drawing on more than 20 years of senior leadership and delivery experience in the built environment.
Kier has made three senior appointments to reinforce its healthcare capability. Rebecca Garcia joins as alliance director to support major and acute hospital projects, while Bonnie Chu becomes alliance design director, providing design leadership across healthcare and other alliancing schemes.
Kier has also appointed Rachel Anderson as social value lead for its national healthcare offer. Anderson will focus on delivering social value outcomes for clients and communities across the group’s healthcare portfolio.
Water company United Utilities has appointed Ian Porter as county business lead for water in Merseyside. Porter will oversee around 150 operational and support staff and manage more than £200M of planned investment to 2030 in water collection, treatment and distribution in the region.
On the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project linking Denmark and Germany, Guy Taylor has been appointed director of construction management, succeeding Henrik Vincentsen from 1 November. Taylor, a British national with extensive tunnelling experience, will lead delivery through the second half of the immersed tunnel’s construction.
Tilbury Douglas has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Martin Harrison as chief financial officer. Harrison brings over two decades of construction and infrastructure experience from senior roles at Tarmac Contracting, Vistry and Fulcrum Utility Services.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board has promoted Joshua Fisher to chief operating officer. Formerly chief digital officer, Fisher will apply his digital transformation and operational leadership experience as RSSB enhances its executive capability in support of rail safety and efficiency.
Holcim UK has appointed Mohamed Ben Driss Alami as managing director of its cement division. Alami, who has spent 16 years with Holcim and was most recently chief financial officer at Holcim Algeria, will lead efforts to expand lower-carbon cement solutions in the UK market.
Wolseley Infrastructure has named Adam Franklin as regional director of operations – south. He will be responsible for operations across 12 Fusion and Burdens branches in southern England.
Planning and infrastructure consultancy Iceni Projects has appointed Anna Sutherland-Bamber as Development Consent Order and planning director. With 15 years’ experience in infrastructure consenting on projects such as Thames Tideway and the Lower Thames Crossing, she will support the firm’s continued expansion into major infrastructure.
Property and facilities specialist Bellrock has appointed Dan Weiss as managing director of its consulting business. Weiss will lead the development of Bellrock’s property consulting services, pursue acquisitions and provide strategic direction for the consulting team.
