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Management

Non-Executive Chair

Dr Paul Golby
CBE, FREng, FIET, FIMechE, FEI, FCGI

Appointment

May 2016

Skills and experience

Paul Golby was appointed as chair of Costain in May 2016. A fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Paul has held a variety of roles within the engineering and energy industries. Following an early career with Dunlop Holdings plc and BTR plc he joined Clayhithe plc, becoming an executive director in 1992. In 1998, Paul joined East Midlands Electricity plc as managing director and following its acquisition by PowerGen (subsequently E.ON UK plc) was appointed executive director, UK operations. In 2002, Paul became chief executive and later executive chairman, stepping down from the E.ON Board in December 2011. Paul was also non-executive chairman of AEA Technology Group plc (2009–2012), chairman of Engineering UK (2010–2016) and pro chancellor and chair of council of Aston University (2009–2017). He was chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (2012–2018) and a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (2010–2019).

External appointments

Non-executive director and chair of the safety, environment and health committee of National Grid plc, board member of the ERA Foundation and chairman of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS Holdings Ltd).

Chief Executive Officer

Alex Vaughan
BSc (Hons), FRICS, Dip IoD, FIoD

Appointment

2019

Skills and experience

Alex Vaughan was appointed CEO in May 2019. Prior to this he was managing director of the Natural Resources division with responsibility for Costain’s services to water, oil and gas and power clients as well as the development of client facing technology solutions across the Group. He held this position since 2013. Alex is qualified as a chartered quantity surveyor. He has worked on infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally, as well as having held a number of corporate roles including Group HR director and corporate development director. In 2009 he completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program (AMP).

External appointments

Chair of the CBI regional council

Chief Financial Officer

Anthony Bickerstaff
FCCA

Appointment

June 2006

Skills and experience

Tony Bickerstaff was appointed chief financial officer in June 2006. Tony has extensive knowledge of the infrastructure and support services sectors both in the UK and overseas. He is responsible for all aspects of the financial management of the Group as well as playing a major role in the Group’s strategic and operational development. Previously, Tony was with the Taylor Woodrow Group, which he joined in 1982. He held a number of senior management and financial positions in Taylor Woodrow including finance director of Taylor Woodrow Construction Limited. Prior to becoming finance director, he was divisional operations director in charge of Taylor Woodrow Group’s PFI projects.

External appointments

Non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Low Carbon Contracts Company Limited and Electricity Settlements Company Limited.

Senior Independent Director

Jane Lodge
FCA, BSc

Appointment

August 2012

Skills and experience

Jane Lodge was appointed as the senior independent director in May 2018 having been a non-executive director since August 2012 and chair of the Audit Committee from the end of October 2012. Jane spent 35 years at Deloitte LLP (UK), 25 as an audit partner advising global companies, particularly in the manufacturing, house-building and property and construction sectors. She was senior partner of the Birmingham office and the Deloitte UK Manufacturing Industry Sector. Jane was previously a non-executive director and chair of the Audit Committee of Moorgate Industries Limited (2014–2015), Devro PLC (March 2012 to April 2020) and Sirius Minerals plc (July 2015- March 2020 when the company was acquired by Anglo American plc) and a non-executive director of Black Country Living Museum Trust Limited.

External appointments

Non-executive director and chair of the audit committee at DCC plc, non-executive director and chair of the audit and risk committee at Bakkavor Group plc and non-executive director of the Bromsgrove School Foundation.

Independent Non-Executive Director

Alison Wood
MBA, BA

Appointment

February 2014

Skills and experience

Alison Wood was appointed as a non-executive director with effect from 1 February 2014 and was appointed as chair of the Remuneration Committee from the beginning of April 2014. Alison is the former global director of strategy and corporate development at National Grid plc (2008–2013). Before that, Alison spent nearly 20 years in a number of strategy and leadership roles at BAE Systems plc including group strategic development director. Alison has also held non-executive director positions at BTG plc (2004–2008), Thus Group plc (2007–2008), Cobham plc (2011-2020) and e2v technologies plc (2013–2017) where she was senior independent director.

External appointments

Non-executive director and chair of the Remuneration Committee at TT Electronics plc and the British Standards Institute and non-executive director of Cairn Energy PLC.

Independent Non-Executive Director

David McManus
BSc

Appointment

May 2014

Skills and experience

David McManus was appointed as a non-executive director with effect from 12 May 2014. David began his career with the Fluor Corporation (1975–1980) after graduating in civil engineering and went on to hold a number of executive positions in Shell UK (1980–1989), LASMO plc (1989– 1994), Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) (1994–2000), BG Group (2000– 2004) and as executive vice president, international operations of Pioneer Natural Resources (2004–2012). David was a non-executive director of Cape plc (2004–2012), where he served as chairman from 2006 to 2008, a non-executive director of Rockhopper Exploration plc (2010-2019), where he served as chairman from 2016 to 2019 and a non-executive director of Caza Oil & Gas Inc. (2011–2015).

External appointments

Non-executive chairman of FlexLNG and Genel Energy plc and a non-executive director at Hess Corporation.

Independent Non-Executive Director

Jacqueline de Rojas
CBE

Appointment

November 2017

Skills and experience

Jacqueline de Rojas was appointed as a non-executive director with effect from 20 November 2017. As president of techUK she is a leader in the UK technology sector and an experienced non-executive director who has held executive positions at global blue-chip software companies such as Citrix Systems, CA Technologies, McAfee and Novell. Jacqueline was previously a non-executive director of AO World Plc and Home Retail Group prior to the divestment of this group. She is the co-chair at the Institute of Coding and advises the board of Accelerate-Her to stop the under representation of women in technology. Jacqueline also lends her support to the Girlguiding Association for technology transformation. She was awarded a CBE for services to international trade in technology in the 2018 New Year’s Honours list.

External appointments

Non-executive director at Rightmove plc and FDM Group (Holdings) plc, chair of the Advisory Board at the Digital Leaders Technology Group and president of techUK.

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Tracey Wood
LLB

Appointment

June 2011

Skills and experience

Tracey Wood joined the Company in February 2006 as head of legal. She has a construction and commercial law background and was formerly a partner at Hammonds. She has held a number of senior roles and was appointed to the Executive Board as HR director in July 2008. She became general counsel and company secretary in June 2011 and also has responsibility for internal audit and risk. Tracey was previously a non-executive director of Bristol Water Plc.

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