Kier names new head of construction business

Kier Group has appointed Martin Staehr as group managing director of its construction division, starting in January 2026.

Staehr will oversee the Regional Build, Strategic Projects, Kier Places and Kier Mechanical & Electrical businesses, managing an order book valued at £4.5bn.

He will also sit on the £4.1bn-turnover group’s executive committee.

Kier Construction currently delivers around 200 live projects across England, Scotland and Wales, the firm said.

It generated £1.9bn in revenue over the past year and has completed 266 education schemes in six years, including HMP Millsike — the UK’s first all-electric prison.

A chartered civil engineer and fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Staehr joins after 17 years with Laing O’Rourke, most recently serving on its European hub executive committee as delivery director for data centres, defence, justice, higher education and science projects.

Kier chief executive designate Stuart Togwell said Staehr would bring “fresh thinking and a drive to make a meaningful difference within the construction industry”. Togwell will take over as chief executive on 1 November, with construction commercial director James Askew acting as interim managing director until Staehr joins.

Staehr said Kier’s strong project pipeline and record of innovation made it “an exciting time to be joining the business and leading its next chapter.”

Source: Kier announcement