Leadership
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Appointed to the Board as Group Chief Executive in January 2015
Leo Quinn was appointed to the Board of Balfour Beatty as Group Chief Executive in January 2015, returning to the company where he started his career as a civil engineer. He was educated at Portsmouth University and Imperial College, London.
Leo joined the Group following five years as Group Chief Executive of QinetiQ Group plc and five years as CEO of De La Rue plc. He led both companies through successful transformations which restored each business to strength and created over £1bn of value.
Prior to that, Leo spent almost four years headquartered in the US as COO of Invensys plc’s $3bn Production Management division. He also worked with Honeywell Inc for 16 years in various senior management roles across the US, UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, ending as Global President of H&BC Enterprise Solutions.
In 2013, Leo founded The 5% Club which encourages companies to invest in the next generation and address the national skills shortage. Its aspiration is for at least 5% of employees to constitute either apprentices, interns or graduates in formal training programmes.
A summary of the role of Group Chief Executive includes the following:
- Strategy development and the stewardship of physical, financial and human resources
- Group operational and financial performance
- Executive leadership
- Health, safety and environmental performance
- Corporate values and ethics
- Objective setting for the senior management team
- Organisational structure, succession and talent management
- Major capital expenditure prioritisation and allocation of resources
- Consideration of acquisitions, disposals and financing
- Stakeholder management.
Committees
- Group Tender & Investment Committee (Chairman)
- Finance & General Purposes Committee (Chairman)
- Safety & Sustainability Committee
- Nomination Committee
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Appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer in June 2015
Philip joined Balfour Beatty as CFO in June 2015. He was previously Group Finance Director at Hogg Robinson Group plc. Prior to that, he was the Group Finance Director at VT Group plc. Philip served as VP Finance at Hewlett-Packard Europe, Middle East and Africa region and was a member of the EMEA board.
His earlier career included senior international finance roles at Compaq, Rank Xerox and Texas Instruments.
Philip is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Committees
- Group Tender & Investment Committee
- Finance & General Purposes Committee
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Appointed Non-executive Group Chair in March 2015
He is Non-executive Group Chair of Aveva Group plc and a Non-executive Director of Newcrest Mining Limited. He was a Non-executive Director of National Grid plc until February 2015, Chairman of Robert Walters plc and a Non-executive (and senior independent) Director of Kazakhmys plc and Essar Energy plc, and a senior advisor at Macquarie Bank Ltd.
Prior to that he was Group President Energy BHP Billiton and president BHP Petroleum, Chief Executive of BTR Nylex, and held senior roles in BOC Group. He has extensive international business experience in the industrials and resources sectors having worked across the UK, US, Asia and the Middle East.
A summary of the role of Group Chair includes the following:- Ensuring effective strategic planning is undertaken by the executive Directors
- Ensuring corporate governance is properly maintained
- Formally appraising the performance of the Group Chief Executive and reviewing with the Group Chief Executive his views on the performance of the other executive Directors
- Providing leadership to the Board
- Acting as senior ambassador for the Company
- Considering Board balance, composition and succession
- Ensuring the smooth operation of the Board and its Committees
- Providing effective communication between the Board and its shareholders.
Committees
- Nomination Committee (Chair)
- Remuneration Committee
- Safety & Sustainability Committee
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Appointed a Non-executive Director in June 2015
Stephen is Non-executive Chairman of Urenco Ltd, (one of the World’s major nuclear fuel cycle companies).
He was CFO of British Energy Group plc (FTSE 100 power generator) and WS Atkins plc (FTSE 250, and UK's largest engineering consultancy) and as Executive Chairman ran Punch Taverns plc (UK's second largest pub owner). He played instrumental roles in the financial and operational transformation of all three companies. He has also been Chairman of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Anglian Water Group.
He spent 11 years with Balfour Beatty's predecessor company BICC plc.
Committees
- Audit & Risk Committee (Chair)
- Nomination Committee
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Appointed a Non-executive Director in 2015
Stuart has over 45 years’ experience in the civil engineering, construction and infrastructure sectors, and was Chief Executive of Costain Group PLC between 2001 and 2005. This followed executive positions in Welsh multi-utility Hyder plc, Alfred McAlpine plc and Tarmac Construction, where he represented the company on the Channel Tunnel board, following 20 years with John Laing Construction. He has also served as a senior Non-executive Director to Scott Wilson Group plc, and as Chairman of Silverdell Plc, Somero Plc and Beck and Pollitzer Limited.
Committees
- Safety & Sustainability (Chair)
- Audit & Risk Committee
- Nomination Committee
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Appointed a Non-executive Director in December 2018
Anne has worked in the energy industry for over thirty years and has extensive knowledge of projects and operations across multiple jurisdictions including the US. Anne held a range of strategic, commercial and operational roles at BP plc including the positions of President of BP Indonesia and Managing Director of BP Norway. Anne’s most recent appointment at BP before retiring was President and CEO of the Canadian business.
Previously a Non-executive Director of Aker Solutions and also Tullow Oil plc (where she was appointed to a number of committees including remuneration), Anne is currently a Board member for Equinor, a provider of sustainable energy for the UK.
Committees
- Remuneration Committee (Chair)
- Safety & Sustainability Committee
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Appointed a Non-executive Director in July 2017
Michael has worked with construction and infrastructure providers for four decades and has extensive knowledge of the US market. He has held a number of leadership and finance roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at CH2M HILL and Partner and Global Leader at Ernst & Young Global LLP Infrastructure, Construction & Engineering Practice.
Latterly, he has acted as a strategic advisor to companies and private equity firms in the engineering and construction industry.
Michael is currently a board member at Psomas Corporation and also serves as an Advisory Board member at Anchor QEA, LLC. He is a Trustee of The California State University Foundation and is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of The California State University System.
Committees
- Audit & Risk Committee
- Remuneration Committee
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Appointed a Non-executive Director in June 2017
Barbara has over thirty years of business and management experience in the private, public and regulated sectors.
In the private sector she has held a series of strategic, commercial and finance roles, including Group Finance Director at Morgan Sindall plc, Regulatory Director at South West Water and Chief Finance Officer for two international listed IT companies.
More recently, she has been Director General at the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Transport, supporting policy implementation and leading commercial projects. Her most recent executive appointment was Chief Operating Officer at Westminster City Council.
Barbara is also a non-executive director at Microgen plc and Agility Trains. She is chair of the Rail Safety Standards Board and a trustee of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.
Committees
- Audit & Risk Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Nomination Committee
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Mark was appointed Chief Executive Officer - UK Construction Services in 2020.
He is responsible for Balfour Beatty’s Regional construction business, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, a leading mechanical and electrical services business, Balfour Beatty Living Places, a local authority service provider, Plant and Fleet Services, and Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering.
Mark joined Balfour Beatty as Managing Director of our UK Rail business in 2012. In 2018, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer - Rail & Utilities, taking on additional responsibility for the Group’s Gas & Water and Power Transmission & Distribution businesses.
Mark has significant experience in delivering critical infrastructure projects in both client and contractor organisations.
Prior to joining Balfour Beatty, Mark was Managing Director at Heathrow and was Managing Director of 24seven Utility Services.
Committees
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Leon was appointed Chief Executive Officer, US Operations in 2020.
Leon is responsible for our US Buildings and US Civils businesses and our US-wide functional shared services, providing overall country leadership and co-ordination.
Leon has been with Balfour Beatty since 2001, holding the positions of Chief Estimator, Vice President, Senior Vice President, Division President of the National/Federal Group, President of the Mid-Atlantic Division, Chief Operating Officer, Mid-Atlantic, and Chief Executive Officer, US – Buildings.
During his 30-year career, he has pursued projects in more than 30 states, and successfully acquired more than $7.5 billion in new work. In addition to having vast experience with federal projects, Leon has experience in the construction of healthcare, upscale lodging and convention centres.
Leon is past president of the National Capitol Chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and holds an Associate of Science degree in construction engineering from Alfred State College.
Committees
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Matthew was appointed as Managing Director, Rail & Utilities in 2020.
He is responsible for Balfour Beatty’s Rail, Power Transmission & Distribution, Omnicom Balfour Beatty and Gas & Water businesses, having joined the Group in 2018 as Managing Director of our Gas & Water business.
Prior to joining Balfour Beatty, Matthew held senior roles at Network Rail, Crossrail and London Underground, where he led complex multi-billion-pound infrastructure programmes. He has a deep knowledge of the UK infrastructure market, with over 21 years’ experience providing strategic direction to large cross-industry and multi-discipline teams.
Matthew is a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and has an MBA from University of Bath.
Committees
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Chris was appointed Chief Technology Officer in December 2019.
He is focussed on technology and accelerating our drive for sustainable innovation. Chris is also responsible for IT and Procurement across the Group, ensuring we match our digital ambitions with our ongoing procurement cost management.
Prior to joining Balfour Beatty, Chris led the Operations team for a major UK software consultancy. He has extensive global IT leadership experience, with previous roles at Invensys, Schneider Electric, De La Rue and QinetiQ.Committees
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Louise was appointed Group Head of Communications in October 2018.
She is responsible for employee communications, marketing communications and brand, public affairs and policy, media relations and reputation management.
Louise joined the Balfour Beatty Group in 2005 and has a wealth of experience in the construction industry. Previously, she has worked in both B2B marketing and consumer PR roles.
Committees
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Tracey was appointed Group General Counsel and Company Secretary in September 2020.
She is responsible for our Legal and Business Integrity teams and Company Secretariat.
Tracey has nearly 30 years’ experience in commercial and construction law. Prior to joining Balfour Beatty she was General Counsel and Company Secretary at Costain. Before Costain, Tracey worked for the legal firm Hammonds, as an Associate and then Partner.
Committees
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Paul was appointed Human Resources Director in 2005 having joined the Group in 1996.
Paul is responsible for ensuring that the people practices and leadership development throughout the Group are aligned and support the achievement of the business strategy.
An essential element of Paul's role is to ensure the business recruits and retains sufficient talented people to achieve the business strategy together with equipping the current workforce with the skills to develop both professionally and personally.
Prior to joining Balfour Beatty, Paul held a variety of HR positions in Alstom, Massey Ferguson and United Biscuits.Committees
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Stephen joined the Executive Committee in 2015.
A chartered civil engineer, Stephen first joined the Balfour Beatty Group in 1981 as a graduate engineer.
Stephen is now responsible for the Group's UK Major Projects and Highways businesses which span an extensive portfolio of major infrastructure projects including HS2, nuclear new build at Hinkley, nuclear decommissioning at Sellafield, Thames Tideway Tunnel and highways schemes across the UK including the M4 motorway upgrade, operations and maintenance for the M25 and projects within Highways England’s Regional Investment Programme.
He also acts as Balfour Beatty’s shareholder representative on the Board of the company’s Hong Kong joint venture business, Gammon.
Stephen has an MBA from City University and is a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Committees