Balfour Beatty COO to be new deputy CEO

Andrew McNaughton, the Chief Operating Officer of Balfour Beatty, is to assume the role of deputy Chief Executive Officer at the infrastructure specialist when the current seat-holder, Anthony Rabin, retires at the end of June.

McNaughton, who has been Chief Operating Officer for the past three years, will also assume Rabin's responsibilities for the group's Infrastructure Investments Division.

Additionally, the group has announced the appointment of Maureen Kempston Darkes, who will join the board in July as a non-executive director. A lawyer by training, Kempston Darkes is also non-executive director on the boards of the following organisations: Brookfield Asset Management Inc, Bridgepoint Health Foundation, Enbridge Inc, Canadian National Railway and Irving Oil Company.

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"Balfour Beatty has an increasing focus on vertical industry sectors and emerging markets and the considerable experience Maureen will bring to board discussions in these areas will add further strength and depth as we move forward with the next phase of our strategic development," said Steve Marshall, Chairman of BT.

Robert Walvis, Balfour Beatty's senior independent director, is to hang up his pin-stripe suit at the end of the year. Iain Ferguson, currently Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, will assume the role of the senior independent director with immediate effect.

JH