Kier appoints new responsible business lead

The construction and infrastructure services group has promoted James Martin to Health, Safety, Wellbeing & Sustainability Director and Head of the Group’s Responsible Business team.

Martin joined Kier on the Group’s graduate programme in 1999 and has gone on to work on some of largest and most high-profile infrastructure projects in the UK, including Crossrail, Sellafield, Hinkley Point C and the channel tunnel. Most recently, he has been working as a Project Director for Eiffage Kier Ferrovial BAM Nuttall (EKFB), which is responsible for delivering 80km of civil engineering works for HS2.

Martin will commence his new role on 4 September and will report directly into the Group’s Chief People Officer, Louisa Finlay.

Martin said of his new role: “I am delighted to be heading up Kier’s Responsible Business team as the Group’s Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability Director. I have seen first-hand sustainability in action in my role at EKFB  and I am looking forward to transferring this knowledge to help realise the ambitions of the Group to support its people, the planet and communities.”

The current holder of this role, Chris Lilley, has also been promoted to a Regional Director within the Eastern and Midlands region of the Group’s Construction business. Over the past two years, Lilley has created a new health, safety and wellbeing strategy and overseen a strong improvement in the Group’s safety performance. He has helped to put the wellbeing of colleagues and supply chain at the same level as health and safety by developing a partnership with the Lighthouse Club and introduced a new employee assistance provider.

Lilley has also played a leading role in the design and roll out of a culture programme across the Group, as well as developing Kier’s evolved sustainability framework and maintaining an industry-leading approach to health and safety.

Both Martin and Lilley have taken part in Building Leaders, Kier’s talent development programme with Cranfield University which is aimed at supporting people into senior roles.

Lilley said: “At the heart of Kier’s purpose is a commitment to sustainably deliver infrastructure across the UK and I feel proud to have led the Responsible Business team which was absolutely focused on this, and has helped bring about real change within Kier, and across the construction industry.

“I am looking forward to utilising my new skills and knowledge as I go into an operational role, in an area of the country where we have real opportunity for growth.”

Andrew Davies, Chief Executive of Kier, stated: “These latest appointments support Kier’s strong focus on both its growth and responsible business agendas and I am delighted that, once again, we have been able to recruit from within our organisation. This demonstrates the breadth, depth and diversity of talent we have within the Group and is a fantastic example of succession planning in action at Kier. I wish James and Chris every success in their new roles.”

These are the latest promotions from within Kier, with Louisa Finlay assuming the role as Chief People Officer earlier this year.