As the cold begins to settle in, many construction companies are making appointments to keep essential infrastructure projects on schedule despite new challenges as the weather changes.
A round up of the biggest moves and appointments in September follows below. To feature on next month’s appointments roundup email Thomas.Johnson@emap.com.
Construction leadership change at Kier
Martin Staehr will become group managing director of Kier’s Construction business, joining from Laing O’Rourke in January 2026. While Stuart Togwell, currently group managing director for construction and CEO designate, will become chief executive of Kier Group on 1 November.
James Askew, Kier Construction’s commercial director, will act as interim group managing director of Construction until Staehr takes up the post.
Chief financial officer appointed at East West Railway Company
Jonathan Clear has been appointed chief financial officer at East West Railway Company, taking up the role in January. Clear joins from Building Digital UK, where he led finance and operations since June 2023. His public sector career includes senior finance roles at the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education, where he served as Finance Director and sat on both the Departmental Board and Executive. Clear succeeds the outgoing finance lead as EWR Co. moves into a critical delivery phase for its rail programme.
New non‑executive chair for High Speed Rail Group
Huw Merriman has been appointed non‑executive chair of the High Speed Rail Group. Merriman served as Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle from 2015 to 2024 and was minister of state for rail, HS2 and regional transport at the Department for Transport from October 2022 to July 2024.
While in government he championed rail apprenticeships, freight growth and projects including East West Rail and the Transpennine Route Upgrade. Merriman replaces the previous chair as the industry body seeks to press its case on rail investment.
First station director named for Hinkley Point C
Nicola Fauvel has been named the first station director for Hinkley Point C and will return to the Somerset site early next year. Fauvel spent the past three years at neighbouring Hinkley Point B, progressing from first plant manager to station director, where she led the team that defuelled the station ahead of handover for decommissioning. Her remit at Hinkley Point C will cover the transition through commissioning into operation.
Stantec director for digital and innovation in water sector named
Paul Fry has been appointed director for digital and innovation in the water business at Stantec. Fry brings more than 30 years’ experience in the water sector and will focus on applying digital tools and modelling to strengthen technical delivery as the sector prepares for upcoming regulatory cycles.
Executive moves at Skanska UK
Dan Williams has been promoted to executive vice president, Building Services. Williams will assume full responsibility for Skanska’s Building Services unit, which employs a significant proportion of the company’s UK workforce. Meliha Duymaz will retain her UK CFO role and take on executive responsibility for the company’s work for HS2 Ltd. In the short term, Adam McDonald will add executive leadership of the firm’s infrastructure operations to his role as executive vice president and chief commercial officer, including oversight of Cementation Skanska. Terry Muckian is due to take permanent responsibility for infrastructure operations and executive oversight of Cementation Skanska once a phased handover is complete.
Top (l-r) – Huw Merriman, Nicola Fauvel, Martyn Court, Mark Wolfe
Bottom (l-r) – Paul Fry, Jonathan Clear, Loren Jones, Andy Temple
Managing director appointed at AtkinsRéalis Buildings & Places in UK and Ireland
Richard Bonner has been named managing director of the Buildings & Places team at AtkinsRéalis in the UK and Ireland. Bonner will lead a team of around 2,000 built environment professionals in the newly created role, reflecting an organisational consolidation aimed at providing integrated services from planning through delivery.
Technical director joins Mott MacDonald environmental and sustainability team
Richard Woodward has been appointed technical director in Mott MacDonald’s environmental and sustainability services team. Woodward brings nearly 20 years’ experience across public and private sector projects, specialising in environmental impact assessment, risk management and sustainable design for major infrastructure.
WSP makes executive and lead changes
Andy Temple has been named executive managing director for the Property & Buildings business in the UK & Ireland at WSP. Temple, previously senior operations director for the business, has more than 20 years’ experience delivering complex multi‑disciplinary projects across healthcare, commercial and residential sectors.
WSP has also appointed Mark Wolfe as aviation sector lead for the UK and Europe; Wolfe brings more than 25 years’ aviation and transport project experience from roles with architecture and consultancies and at major UK airports.
Turner & Townsend makes a number of top-level changes
Michael Mahon has joined Turner & Townsend as director to lead its advisory offer across energy and natural resources, based in London. Mahon brings over 25 years’ sector experience and was most recently Chief Infrastructure Officer at EirGrid.
Marcel Langeslag has been appointed regional lead for aviation in Europe at Turner & Townsend and will be based in Munich. Langeslag has 16 years’ international aviation experience spanning master planning, infrastructure design, transaction advisory and sustainability strategy.
Gareth Taylor has joined Turner & Townsend as director and nuclear sector lead, bringing over 25 years’ nuclear industry experience across new build, operations and decommissioning.
Asa James has been appointed director and head of estimating and data, returning to the firm after earlier roles; James will focus on digital transformation and data‑led delivery across major portfolios and projects.
Two senior hires for Mace Consult’s Europe hub
Martyn Court joins Mace Consult as head of mobility, having been a partner at Arcadis and worked on programmes including Thames Tideway and London’s major airports.
Louise Sunderland has been appointed head of cities & places and London, joining from EY where she was a partner in government and Infrastructure consultancy; Sunderland has more than 25 years’ experience across professional services and government.
Chief executive change at Nexans
Julien Hueber has been appointed chief executive officer of Nexans with immediate effect, following a board decision to part ways with Christopher Guérin. Guérin will remain available to Hueber until 31 October 2025. Hueber has been executive managing director of PWR Grid & Connect Europe, a business unit with extensive manufacturing operations, and has been an executive committee member since 2018; he joined Nexans in 2002.
Permanent CEO named at Octopus Electric Vehicles
Gurjeet Grewal has been appointed permanent chief executive officer at Octopus Electric Vehicles after serving as interim CEO. Grewal takes up the role as the business continues its expansion in electric vehicle leasing for drivers and fleets.
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