Ex-EC Harris director joins Aecom

Aecom has recruited a former director from EC Harris to take on a new dual role in its Europe, Middle East and Africa division, writes Iain Withers.

Mark Prior (pictured), ex-head of transportation at EC Harris, has become Aecom’s head of programme, cost and consultancy (PCC) in the Middle East and head of offices across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Prior – who previously headed up the Middle East division of EC Harris – will be based in the region.

He will work with London-based directors Peter Flint and Nick Clare on growing the firm’s offices sector work throughout EMEA.

Aecom’s commercial team has been hit by a number of senior departures in the past year, including head of real estate Alex Davey and Davis Langdon’s head of offices Iain Parker, head of tall buildings Steve Watts, and head of commercial Paul Allen.

Prior has replaced David Glover in the offices lead role. Glover had been covering the brief on top of his role as chief executive of building engineering and global head of commercial.

Building understands the head of Middle East PCC role was vacant after Steve Coates left the post in recent weeks to pursue other opportunities in the region.

Aecom said its appointment of Prior – who as EC Harris’ regional managing director for the Middle East grew the division from 30 to 350 staff – demonstrated its “commitment” to the region, where it has worked on major projects in recent years including Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Towers and the expansion of Abu Dhabi international airport.

In his transport role at EC Harris, Prior led the aviation, rail and highways sector of the group. Prior left EC Harris a year ago.

Prior said: “Aecom’s team has a strong reputation for innovation and innate focus on client satisfaction. I look forward to getting involved and working with clients to meet their needs and develop the Aecom offering.”