Kier, a construction and infrastructure services firm, has unveiled a new structure for its UK construction business that will support its ambitions for sustainable growth in its key sectors across England, Scotland and Wales.
The new UK structure consists of five business units including four regional businesses, its maintenance offering, as well as two newly formed functions that will focus on operational excellence and closer alignment to clients and markets, offering a unique approach through digitally-enabled, sustainable solutions. The four regional businesses will continue to leverage its extensive regional footprint.
The five UK Construction business units include:
Kier Places: the housing maintenance and facilities management solution business will continue to be headed up by Mark Whittaker, who has grown the business significantly over the past two years.
London, South and Strategic Projects: This business will be led by David McKenzie who joined Kier last year as MD of London & South East. This business will continue to build important healthcare and education projects, as well as maximise opportunities with the commercial sector. Current projects include P2, a 12-storey, commercial 388,000 sq ft building in King’s Cross as well as HMP Five Wells, a new prison that is utilising a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) approach.
Midlands and Eastern: Mark Dady’s current role as MD for Eastern, will expand and cover the whole of the Midlands and the East of England. Dady will now lead projects such as Perry Barr Residential Scheme where it is delivering an eight-storey mixed-use building in the heart of Birmingham, as well as the new Ambulatory Care and Diagnostics centre to Heartlands Hospital.
Western and Wales: Anthony Irving will continue as MD of Western & Wales and will also take overall responsibility for safety, health and wellbeing within the business. Within this region, Kier is delivering the UK’s first Passivhaus standard ultra-low carbon leisure centre, St Sidwell’s Point.
North and Scotland: Gary Wintersgill continues as MD for this business which spans from Nottingham to Scotland. Live projects span healthcare, education, local authorities and commercial and is pioneering new carbon-saving technology on its sites.
The two new functions are:
Clients and Markets: Louisa Finlay, formerly MD for Kier’s Regional Building Southern business, will spearhead the newly-formed Client & Markets function. Finlay was pivotal to defining the sustainability strategy within the Construction business and in this new position will oversee its implementation as well as supporting clients with their net zero ambitions. Finlay will also oversee Kier’s MMC offering and ‘digital by default’ approach.
Operations: Chris Stevens takes up the position as overall Operations Director for the Construction business. Stevens joined Kier in January of this year and will now be responsible for growing Kier’s self-delivery capabilities in building technologies and design and delivering key strategic actions as part of the Group’s Performance Excellence programme.
Liam Cummins, Group Managing Director for Kier Construction, said: “This new structure underpins the delivery of our strategy for sustainable growth over the next five years. With our four regional businesses and Kier Places, we are focused on continuing to position ourselves for growth in our primary sectors and within key geographical locations, further strengthening our position as the UK's leading regional builder.
“The creation of two new operational and client and markets’ functions allow us to unlock further potential in key markets, as well as providing operational certainty for our clients. This revised structure ensures we continue to offer market-leading solutions for our clients and the communities we serve now and in the future.
“This new operating model and senior leadership team puts us in the strongest position to deliver sustainable growth over the next five years.”
