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Non-Executive Chair
Kate Rock
BA
Appointment
Kate was appointed to the Board on 1 November 2022 and became chair of the Board and chair of the Nomination Committee on 1 December 2022.
Skills and experience
Kate is an experienced non-executive director with a background in corporate communications and strategy and brings a strong understanding of the construction contracting sector, the application of innovation and technology to drive productivity enhancements,
and of government.Baroness Rock is senior independent director at Keller Group plc (see below) and was, until 2017, a non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee of Imagination Technologies plc. She was, until January 2023, a member of the House of Lords Select Committee for Science and Technology and a board member of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.
External appointments
Keller Group plc; senior independent director, chair of social and community committee and non-executive director with responsibility for workforce engagement. The Prince’s Countryside Fund; trustee.
Chief Executive Officer
Alex Vaughan
BSc(Hons), FRICS, Dip IoD, FIoD, FICE
Appointment
Alex was appointed to the Board as CEO in May 2019
Skills and experience
Alex joined Costain in 1992 and has been a member of the Executive Board since 2006. Before becoming CEO, Alex played a leading role in Costain’s transformation into a smart infrastructure solutions business through his leadership of the development and growth of the Group’s consultancy and technology services. In his role as MD, Natural Resources, Alex delivered significant growth in profit and margin. Alex is a qualified chartered quantity surveyor and has worked on infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally and, additionally, held various corporate roles across HR, strategy, M&A and corporate development. In 2009 he completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. Alex was chair of the CBI regional council from 2019 to 2021.
External appointments
None
Chief Financial Officer
Helen Willis
BSc, ACA
Appointment
Helen was appointed to the Board as CFO in November 2020
Skills and experience
Helen has a strong financial background underpinned by her profession as a chartered accountant. She is an experienced public company chief financial officer with a high level of understanding of investor relations and change programmes, including in organisations undergoing periods of strategic change. Helen has also driven finance transformation programmes to significantly improve processes, systems and culture. She has worked in multiple sectors and is highly commercial, able to balance both short and long term goals, develop strategic options and contribute broadly to the business. Prior to joining Costain, Helen held roles as chief financial officer of De La Rue and Premier Farnell. She has also held senior finance roles at Pelican Rouge, AZ Electronic Materials and HSS Hire.
External appointments
None
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jacqueline de Rojas
CBE
Appointment
Jacqueline was appointed to the Board in November 2017.
Skills and experience
Jacqueline brings to the Board a wealth of global experience in fast moving technology businesses, having previously held senior roles in major global technology companies such as Citrix Systems, CA Technologies, McAfee and Novell. She brings a deep understanding of how technology can be used to transform a business and insight into the development of new commercial models that deliver attractive economics. Jacqueline is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She was awarded a CBE for services to international trade in technology in 2018.
External appointments
Rightmove plc; nonexecutive director and senior independent director. FDM Group Holdings plc; non-executive director and board member responsible for employee voice. IFS; non-executive director and board member responsible for ESG. techUK; board member and former president. Merryck & Co.; executive mentor.
Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Bishoy Azmy
BSc, MBA
Appointment
Bishoy was appointed to the Board in June 2020.
Skills and experience
Bishoy is the designated Board representative of ASGC, a construction conglomerate with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE, and the largest shareholder of the Company. Bishoy is an engineer with a focus on safety and risk management. The Company benefits from the wealth of market knowledge, management and commercial expertise, together with construction sector experience, he has accumulated during his career. He has dynamically led new market expansion, digital transformation and operational innovation strategy thereby bringing a strong strategic focus to Board discussions. Bishoy is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
External appointments
Innovo Holdings Limited; CEO
Senior Independent Director
Tony Quinlan
BSc, ACA
Appointment
Tony was appointed to the Board in February 2021, became chair of the Audit Committee in May 2021 and senior independent director on 12 January 2022
Skills and experience
Tony is a chartered accountant with a wealth of financial experience gained during multiple senior roles in high profile large companies and as a chair of audit committees. He also brings to the Board his business turnaround experience from his time as CFO then CEO at Laird. Tony possesses the recent and relevant financial experience in accounting and auditing required to effectively chair the Audit Committee and, as senior independent director of another listed company, had the experience required to successfully lead the search for our new chair in 2022. Tony was previously chief financial officer of Drax Group, held senior finance roles at Marks & Spencer and was senior independent director and chair of the audit committee for the Port of London Authority.
External appointments
Hill & Smith Holdings PLC; non-executive director, senior independent director and chair of the remuneration committee. Associated British Ports; non-executive director. Laird Thermal Systems (Adparatus GmbH); chair and advisory board member.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Neil Crockett
BA
Appointment
Neil was appointed to the Board in October 2021.
Skills and experience
Neil was chief digital officer at Rolls-Royce where, in partnership with business unit leaders, he accelerated the development of the group’s digital strategy. Neil previously held several global, European and UK leadership positions with Cisco Systems. Neil brings a passion and a strong track record in digital innovation and transformation and has gained experience of the wider UK digital innovation community in his previous role as the founding CEO of Digital Catapult, a UK Government funded digital innovation organisation and in his current role as a non-executive director at Catalyst, a business accelerating innovation and growth in the Northern Ireland knowledge economy. Neil is also a member of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Innovation panel.
External appointments
Barnardo’s; trustee board member and chair of the risk committee. Catalyst; deputy chair and senior independent director.
Independent non-executive Director
Fiona MacAulay
MSc
Appointment
Fiona was appointed to the Board on 6 April 2022 and became chair of the Remuneration Committee on 5 May 2022
Skills and experience
Fiona is an experienced non-executive director and remuneration committee chair within the resources and industrial sectors including upstream oil and gas. Fiona has extensive experience in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), has completed Diligent’s Climate Leadership Program and is a member of Chapter Zero, a community of business leaders taking ownership of the climate challenge. Fiona has experience in operations, large programme, stakeholder and global supply chain management from BG Group, Mobil, Rockhopper Exploration and Echo Energy. Fiona was, until 2022, a non-executive director, remuneration committee chair and HSE committee chair of Coro Energy and stepped down as non-executive chair and remuneration committee chair of IOG in May 2023. Fiona is a past President of American Association of Petroleum Geologists Europe.
External appointments
Ferrexpo plc; senior independent director and chair of the remuneration and ESG committees. Chemring Group PLC; non-executive director. Dowlais Group plc; non-executive director.