Balfour boss Quinn replaces Anna Stewart on CLC

Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn has replaced former Laing O’Rourke chief executive Anna Stewart on the Construction Leadership Council.

Stewart stepped down from the council in January, a month after stepping down as boss of Laing O’Rourke due to ill health.

Quinn (pictured) is to take up Stewart’s work on the skills works stream.

Rider Levett Bucknall chair Ann Bentley has also replaced former Bouygues chief executive Madani Sow on the council and taken over the supply chain and business model work stream. The move comes after Sow stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Bougyues UK in January.

Arup director Isabel Dedring - formerly London’s deputy mayor for transport - has also been appointed to the council, taking its total membership up one from 13 to 14. Dedring will work on promoting smarter infrastructure through innovation in procurement.

The leadership council - joint led by co-chairs skills minister Nick Boles and Crossrail chairman Andrew Wolstenholme - was relaunched last summer to drive improvements in efficiency, skills and growth across the sector.

The rebooted council was in part designed to replace the role of chief construction adviser, which was axed after Peter Hansford completed his tenure in the role last November.

Commenting on the departures of Sow and Stewart, co-chair of the council and Crossrail chief executive, Andrew Wolstenholme, said Sow and Stewart left the council in “a strong position to help raise the bar for a more productive and better skilled industry.”

Skills minister Nick Boles, also co-chair of the council, added that Quinn, Bentley and Dedring will bring “great expertise” to the council.

Commenting on his appointment, Quinn said: “I am passionate about the provision of high quality apprenticeships that provide the skills to our young people that industry demands.

“It is imperative that young adults are aware of the vast opportunities available to them in our industry and that, most importantly, these opportunities are accessible and provide a solid foundation for a long, successful career in the industry.”

Simon Rawlinson, head of strategic research and insight at Arcadis and CLC member responsible for the communication work stream, said the new members were “heavy hitters in the industry” and would provide “great continuity”.