WJ Group appoints Chris Southgate as new CEO
- Safer Highways
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
WJ Group has announced the appointment of Chris Southgate as its new Chief Executive Officer, with the experienced infrastructure leader set to join the business later this year.
Southgate will succeed founder and current CEO Wayne Johnston, who will step down from the role and the day-to-day running of the company after nearly four decades leading the business.
Southgate joins WJ from M&J Evans Construction, a groundworks and civil engineering company where he has served as CEO since June 2020, overseeing a period of strong financial and operational growth.
He brings extensive senior management experience across the construction and infrastructure sectors, having previously held leadership roles at Barratt & David Wilson, Scottish & Newcastle PLC and Kwik Fit.
Founder steps back after nearly 40 years
Commenting on the transition, Wayne Johnston reflected on the company’s journey and the importance of evolving its leadership for the future.
He said:“WJ has been my life’s work for nearly 40 years, and I am incredibly proud of what we have built together.
“As we look toward the future, our ambitions demand that we strengthen and evolve our leadership. Chris is an exceptional fit for WJ – he brings deep sector expertise, strong values alignment, and a passion for developing colleagues and businesses.
“I am excited about this next chapter and look forward to supporting Chris as he leads WJ into its future.”
Focus on growth and sector impact
Incoming CEO Chris Southgate said he was honoured to join a company with such a strong heritage and purpose.
He said:“I am honoured to be joining WJ, a business with a remarkable heritage and a vital purpose. Wayne and the team have built a strong, values-driven organisation that makes a genuine difference to road users and communities.
“I look forward to working with colleagues across WJ to continue delivering excellence for our customers while helping shape the next phase of the company’s growth.”
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