Keith Howells appointed ACE chairman

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has appointed Mott MacDonald chairman Keith Howells as its chairman for 2013, its centenary anniversary year.

Howells – who became chairman of Mott MacDonald in January 2011 after six years as managing director – took up the ACE post on 1 January.

As managing director of Mott MacDonald, Howells oversaw rapid growth at the consultant, which grew revenue from £485m to just over £1bn between 2004 and 2009.

He became ACE vice chairman in 2011 and was elected chair at an ACE board meeting on 27 November last year.

Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, Chief Executive of ACE, said: “We are delighted and very privileged to have Keith Howells as our chairman for 2013.

“He is a major figure within the industry and his success at Mott MacDonald has been remarkable and long lasting.

“The entire ACE board and I look forward to Keith’s leadership as we celebrate the centenary anniversary of the ACE in 2013.”

Keith Howells said: “It’s both an honour and a privilege to chair ACE during its centenary year and I look forward to playing my part in helping ACE raise awareness of our industry’s crucial contribution to the UK economy as we celebrate this important milestone.

“I will also be supporting ACE in its on-going dialogue with government on the vital role of infrastructure investment to stimulate economic growth.

“And I intend to do all I can to assist the ACE in promoting our members’ interests to key clients.”