Despite everything slowing down in the final month of the year, there were still a number of notable senior appointments at the likes of Kier, Costain, Sizewell C and more.
A round up of the biggest moves and appointments in November follows below. To feature on next month’s appointments roundup email Thomas.Johnson@emap.com.
Chief financial officer change at Kier
Simon Kesterton, Kier’s chief financial officer and an executive director of the Group Board, stepped down at the end of the year. Kesterton has been credited internally with helping to stabilise Kier’s finances and leading substantial change programmes in IT and procurement during a period of recovery for the construction and services group.
Tom Hinton has taken over as CFO. Hinton was interim chief executive at Kier and a former CFO of logistics group Wincanton. He has previously held senior finance roles at Infinis Energy and Domestic & General. His appointment signals a continued emphasis on financial discipline, capital allocation and growth as Kier moves beyond its restructuring phase.
Costain appoints director of natural resources
Costain has named Peter Mumford as managing director of its natural resources division and he will take up a place on the company’s Executive Board. Mumford joins from Balfour Beatty, where he ran the firm’s regional civils business in the UK, and brings more than 20 years’ experience across engineering, programme management and consultancy. He will be responsible for growing Costain’s operations in water, energy and defence markets, drawing on previous roles at National Highways and long service in firms including Aecom and Turner & Townsend.
ORR chief stepping down
After two decades at the regulator and seven years as chief executive, John Larkinson has announced he will leave the Office of Rail and Road at the end of April 2026. Larkinson’s departure triggers a formal recruitment process for his successor; under his tenure the ORR has overseen safety and economic regulation across Britain’s rail network and ports and engaged with major industry reforms.
Sizewell C to continue under single CEO
Nuclear project Sizewell C confirmed that Nigel Cann has become chief executive as the scheme moves into its main construction phase. Cann has jointly led the project alongside Julia Pyke since 2023 and takes sole leadership following the project’s Final Investment Decision and Financial Close.
Pyke, who joined in 2017 and has overseen the development and financing model, has stepped down after presiding over the project’s transition from development to delivery.
New chairman for Heathrow
Philip Jansen has been appointed to succeed Lord Paul Deighton as chairman of Heathrow Airport Holdings. Jansen is a veteran executive with more than 30 years’ experience, including chairing WPP and serving as chief executive of BT Group, Worldpay and Sodexo. His appointment comes as Heathrow prepares for post-pandemic recovery and long-term planning around capacity, sustainability and regulatory scrutiny.
Top (L-R): Nigel Cann, Andrew Walters, John Larkinson, Tara Chopra
Bottom (L-R): Philip Jansen, Silvia To, Mark Southgate, Tom Hinton
Quartet of appointments at Turner & Townsend
Turner & Townsend has bolstered its UK programme set-up and consenting capability with four senior hires: Mark Southgate, Tara Chopra and Andrew Walters as project directors, and Silvia To as associate director.
The recruits bring decades of planning, environmental assessment and consenting experience across national infrastructure, transport and energy projects, and will support the firm’s work to secure planning approvals and de-risk nationally significant programmes across the UK, with an expanded focus on Scotland under Walters.
Tilbury Douglas hires new head of fit-out offshoot
Fit-out specialist Paragon, part of Tilbury Douglas, has appointed Jack Dixon as managing director. Dixon joins from Structure Tone, bringing extensive experience in London fit-out projects and will lead Paragon’s Cat A and Cat B refurbishment and rapid-delivery fit-out work as the company seeks to grow its impact in commercial interiors markets.
Sweco appoints new boss in Sweden
Fredrik Wallner has become business area president for Sweco Sweden and joined Sweco Group’s executive team. Wallner, previously head of Sweco Sweden’s transport and infrastructure division, was promoted internally and will take overall responsibility for the consultancy’s Swedish operations as the group continues to focus on built-environment engineering and infrastructure consultancy across the Nordics.
Salko names first project development planner
Mechanical and engineering contractor Salko UK has appointed Debbie Harman as its first project development planner. Harman will lead business development efforts overseas, with an emphasis on establishing recruitment hubs in key European markets. Her background includes on-site roles and commercial project work, and the appointment comes amid a period of contract growth for the firm at home and abroad.
New CEO at Vp
Specialist equipment rental group Vp has selected Alice Woodwark as its next chief executive, effective 1 February 2026, following a formal search to replace incumbent Anna Bielby. Woodwark joins from Mitie, where she was a managing director of the public sector Communities division, and has held senior roles at Compass Group, including head of strategy and M&A. The board cited her operational and leadership experience in B2B services and a focus on people and customers as reasons for her selection; a short handover with Bielby is planned to ensure continuity.
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