People Moves

The Department for Transport (DfT) was rebuffed by over 100 prospective candidates for the role of HS2 chair, Construction News can reveal. Last week the government promoted HS2 deputy chairman Jon Thompson to the role, which had been vacant for two years after former chair Allan Cook left HS2 in…

HS2 civils delivery director Mike Lyons (pictured) is leaving his post next month for a role in the private sector. In a letter to HS2 independent construction commissioner Mark Worthington, Lyons confirmed he would be “leaving HS2 Ltd shortly”. Lyons joined HS2 in 2014 as programme director and has held…

The head of building at Scottish contractor Cruden Group is to leave, as part of a shake-up of the firm’s operations. Allan Callaghan, managing director of the group’s building arm, will step down after a quarter of a century with the organisation. His departure follows a strategic review, which has…

Conservative peer Richard Harrington has resigned as chairman and director of Manchester-based contractor Intelligent FS, just three months after joining. The company said the former construction minister, who was appointed late last year to advise on governance, growth and strategy, would instead be focusing on other commitments. When Harrington joined…

After more than two years of searching for a chair of HS2, the government has promoted the existing deputy chair to the role. Civil Service veteran Sir Jon Thompson, had long been tipped as a frontrunner for the position on the rail megaproject, which was vacated by former chair Allan…

Sir Nigel Wilson, the boss of Legal & General who oversaw its launch into the affordable housing and modular homes sector, is to step down after more than a decade in charge.  The 66-year-old, who was knighted last year for services to the financial industry, has told L&G’s board he…

Wates has appointed the head of a marine engineering company as its new chief executive. Eoghan O’Lionaird, CEO of FTSE-listed James Fisher and Sons, will take over at the contractor on 20 February. The 56-year-old has also worked in executive roles at companies including Philips, high-tech equipment and software firm…

A former trainee engineer has been appointed as Kier’s new chief people officer. Louisa Finlay (pictured) will take up the role from 6 March, more than 30 years since she joined Kier. Finlay initially joined the contractor as a trainee engineer on a sandwich degree, and has worked at the…

John Sisk & Son has appointed two new healthcare leads as it looks to expand its healthcare focus, Construction News can reveal. Nadeem Chaudhry has taken on the position of health sector lead, after more than six-and-a-half years at Kier. Most recently he was a project director on Kier’s £93m…

National Infrastructure Commission boss Sir John Armitt has been appointed to the board of the company that owns Tilbury Douglas, Construction News can reveal. Armitt was appointed a non-executive director of TD Bidco one day after last week's announcement that he had been granted another term as chair of the…