Aecom promotes 20 to become UK directors

Aecom has promoted 20 of its staff to director within its UK project and cost management and consulting (PCC) business, taking the total number of new directors in the division to 55 since January.

The director promotions include 10 in cost management, four in project management, four in consulting and two in engineering services.

In addition, Aecom has poached 20 staff from rival firms to become directors this year, including Nick Willars from Buro Four to become head of design management and Darren Cox from Atkins to lead on procurement advisory.

On top of 15 promotions in January, this takes the total number of new directors this year to 55, the firm said.

Aecom said the director appointments “highlights the continuing investment in Aecom’s specialist consulting capabilities”.

Laurence Brett (pictured), head of UK regions for PCC at Aecom, said: “We operate in a highly competitive market and the battle for talent is a big challenge for everyone in our industry.

“To win, your strength must lie in your ability to retain as well as attract top talent. We have a wealth of expertise at Aecom, so it is great to see such a large cohort of our existing team being promoted to director level, alongside the number of new directors that have joined the business.”

In the latest round of promotions, the ten promoted cost management directors are Iain Ballantyne, Mark Claridge, Nick Flanagan, Andrew Howland, Fiona Leslie, Jon Nelson, Kevin Smith, Matthew Timms, Paul Wass and David Unwin.

The four promoted consulting directors are Jonathan Baldwin, Richard Newey, Charlotte Ellis and Craig McQuarrie and the four promoted project management directors are John Fox, Matt Tanner, Matthew Harman and Richard Tunstall.

The two promoted engineering services directors are Florention Bercasio and Jon Flin.

The firm added that the overall headcount of its consulting business line within PCC has grown 75% since the start of the year.

Major schemes currently on the UK PCC division’s books include design work for the Rio 2016 Olympic Park, Crossrail, the UK pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo and the planned Bristol Arena venue.

Aecom’s UK PCC business is predominantly made up of the former Davis Langdon business, which US-based Aecom bought in 2012, before phasing out the Davis Langdon brand last September.