Balfour Beatty poaches senior Network Rail director

Balfour Beatty has poached a senior Network Rail director, Uma Shanker, to become chief operating officer of its M&E division Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES).

Shanker was previously a project director in Network Rail’s infrastructure projects team, where he led projects including the introduction of high speed factory track construction trains, modular switches and the electrification upgrade of the West Coast Mainline.

Shanker will report to BBES managing director Phil McGuire.

McGuire said: “Uma’s appointment to this new role demonstrates our commitment to providing world-class service through enhanced operational and design capabilities across our business.

“Uma will support effective operational delivery from design, through to developing our leading Modular Systems+ business, and will work closely with other parts of the Balfour Beatty Group to ensure an integrated delivery model for complex infrastructure customers.”