M OVES
MOTT MACDONALD INTERSERVE APPOINTS NEW CHIEF APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE GLOBAL MD Mott MacDonald has appointed Mike Haigh as the new managing director of its global business. Haigh (pictured) will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operational performance of the whole Mott MacDonald group, which has 16,000 staff working across engineering, management and development consultancy. He has been promoted from his role as managing director of the firm’s Europe and Africa division, which has more than 7,000 staff and revenue of over £820m. Haigh joined Mott MacDonald as a graduate engineer in 1981 and worked his way up at the firm before being appointed to its executive board in 2013. Commenting on his new role, Haigh said: “The needs of the world’s population and technology are changing fast and we have tremendous opportunities to work with our clients and partners to create clever, intelligent solutions that enhance value for them, their stakeholders and the wider society.
Interserve has appointed Debbie White from support services group Sodexo as new chief executive officer. White is currently CEO of Government and Healthcare worldwide at the Sodexo Group. She will join Interserve in September when existing chief Adrian Ringrose will step down. White, who graduated with an economics degree from Cambridge, has held several senior financial roles. White started her career at former accounting giant Arthur Andersen before moving to Astrazeneca and PwC. In 2004 she became the chief financial officer of Sodexo’s UK operations. She has progressed through the firm to be the current chief executive of government and healthcare worldwide. Under her leadership, the business diversified into probation services and expanded through several acquisitions. Interserve chairman Glyn Barker said: “Having conducted an extensive search and selection process, I am delighted that Debbie White is joining Interserve as CEO. “Debbie has considerable experience and expertise and a strong track record of success in running complex businesses in the international support services sector.
“There are exciting times ahead for our industry and Mott MacDonald and I’m delighted to be taking up this role, working with such talented colleagues.”
“I am confident that, under Debbie’s leadership, the team will deliver the change and growth necessary to take Interserve forward and enhance shareholder value.”
Keith Howells, Mott MacDonald group chairman, said: “I’ve known Mike since he joined us as a graduate, and I’m delighted to have him running our worldwide operations in his new role as group managing director.”
White said: “I am delighted to be joining Interserve. Over the years I have had a great respect for the company and its people and I am looking forward to leading the organisation into a new era.”
KEO ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF FIRST COO Dr. Abdol Hagh takes up role at the planning, design, engineering and project management firm KEO International Consultants has announced the appointment of Dr. Abdol Hagh as the company’s first Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Dr. Abdol Hagh will be instrumental in setting and formulating policies related to strategic planning, growth and decision-making on all operations. As COO, Dr. Hagh will also be fully responsible for leading the design related business in KEO, which includes the delivery of all architectural, engineering, planning and landscape architecture services. He will report to Donna Sultan, President and CEO of the planning, design, engineering and project management firm. “Dr. Abdol Hagh is one of our industry’s most accomplished professionals,” said Sultan. “His appointment is an important move for KEO and I look forward to working with him in providing the leadership for our consultancy firm.” The holder of a Master of Science degree in engineering from MIT and a PhD in engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Dr. Hagh is a 35-year industry veteran. Prior to joining KEO, he spent eight years in high profile positions in the construction, engineering and building design sectors.
21 Gamechangers