Balfour Beatty announces leadership changes to sharpen customer focus and drive performance

Balfour Beatty has announced a significant restructuring of its UK operations as it looks to enhance customer focus, improve project performance and strengthen delivery across key infrastructure sectors.

The changes will bring together expertise from across transport, energy, defence and regional infrastructure, creating a more integrated business designed to support the delivery of major national projects and respond to evolving infrastructure priorities.

New UK business portfolios

As part of the reorganisation, the company has established three core UK portfolios.

UK Defence, Power & Regional Infrastructure will be led by Divisional Chief Executive Nick Crossfield. The new division combines the company's regional civil engineering operations, Scottish construction business, UK buildings division and power transmission and distribution activities. The move is intended to create a more joined-up offering across defence infrastructure, electricity networks and regional development programmes.

UK Energy & Major Projects, under the leadership of Divisional Chief Executive Phil Clifton, will bring together major infrastructure delivery and large-scale energy programmes. The portfolio includes projects such as Hinkley Point C and Net Zero Teesside and positions the business to pursue future opportunities in areas including small modular reactors (SMRs), water infrastructure and other major energy developments.

A new UK Transport division will unite the company's rail, highways and Living Places businesses into a single transport-focused portfolio. Recruitment for a divisional chief executive is currently underway.

Continued focus on major programmes

Balfour Beatty's major alliances and joint ventures will continue to operate under the leadership of Divisional Chief Executive Steve Tarr. This includes involvement in nationally significant programmes such as HS2, Sizewell C and the Gammon joint venture, ensuring continuity across some of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.

Strengthening strategic leadership

Alongside the operational changes, the company is expanding its Group Executive Committee through the creation of two new senior positions: a Chief Strategy Officer and a Group Business Services Director.

The new roles are intended to enhance strategic planning, improve productivity and support long-term value creation across the organisation.

Supporting future growth

Group Chief Executive Philip Hoare said the restructuring reflects the company's commitment to delivering greater value for customers while creating stronger opportunities for employees.

"These changes sharpen our focus on our customers and our core growth markets," he said.

"By bringing our capabilities together in this way, we are building a more connected, agile business that is better placed to deliver critical infrastructure and consistent value for our customers, partners and shareholders."

Hoare added that the new structure would also create clearer development opportunities for Balfour Beatty's workforce of around 26,000 employees.

The divisional chief executives, alongside the new Chief Strategy Officer and Group Business Services Director, will report directly to Hoare as the company seeks to position itself for future infrastructure investment across the UK.