We use functional cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping the Costain website reliable and secure and to analyse how our site is being used.
Will you accept our use of non-essential cookies?



Yes No Privacy Notice

Management

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

Chief People and Sustainability Officer

Catherine Warbrick
BSc (Hons)

Appointment

Appointed in September 2019

Skills and experience

Catherine joined Costain in 2006 and has performed a number of roles, most recently as director of learning and development and corporate responsibility and prior to that as investor relations director. Highlights of her career with Costain include developing and implementing the Group’s first Corporate Responsibility (CR) strategy, achieving Platinum status in Business in the Community’s CR Index in 2013 and driving change to achieve the Group’s recognition in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2018-2021, and being cited as a game changer in 2019 for our work on gender parity in early careers recruitment. Catherine graduated with an honours degree in Environmental Science.

External appointments

None

Managing Director - Natural resources

Sam White
BSc, MBA

Appointment

Appointed in January 2022

Skills and experience

Sam White was appointed managing director of Natural Resources in January 2022. He has a strong track record in developing strategic client relationships and delivering enhanced business performance and growth, gained through a variety of challenging multi-sector roles in multi-national organisations. Sam joined Costain from Babcock International Group where he held various leadership roles across defence, energy and engineering services. Prior to this he held roles with BAE systems and General Dynamics. Sam is a qualified executive coach and is a passionate advocate of inclusion and diversity.

External appointments

None

Group Commercial Director

David Taylor
FRICS, FIoD

Appointment

Appointed in January 2015

Skills and experience

David Taylor joined the Company in 2009 and was appointed to the Executive Board as Group commercial director in January 2015. Hehas held a number of senior leadership roles within the business and is currently responsible for the commercial, supply chain and procurement functions. David is also executive sponsor for business improvement including the delivery of operational excellence across the Group’s portfolio of complex delivery projects. Since December 2020, David is the executive sponsor for wellbeing for the Group.

Prior to joining Costain, David acquired more than 25 years’ experience with Taylor Woodrow where he held the position of commercial director for its UK operations.

David is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

External appointments

None

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Nicole Geoghegan
LLB

Appointment

Appointed in July 2022

Skills and experience

Nicole is a highly experienced General Counsel and Company Secretary with an extensive background in major/mega projects and infrastructure, covering the full asset lifecycle. Nicole spent six years on the HS2 project as General Counsel and Company Secretary prior to joining Costain. She has significant international experience in rail/transport, engineering and project services and is an expert in public sector procurement, fit-for-purpose governance and effective risk management.

External appointments

None

Director of Strategy and Transformation

Abida Lalani
BSc (Hons)

Appointment

Appointed in October 2022

Skills and experience

Abida Lalani joined Costain as Change Programme Director in November 2019 and is focused on accelerating the implementation of Costain’s strategy across its four markets in transportation, water, energy and defence. Abi has since also taken on day to day strategy and planning for the Group and oversees the running of our Group wide transformation programme and other business improvement activities. Prior to Costain, Abida worked for HSBC, KPMG and Lloyds Banking Group where she formed a niche in large-scale transformation programmes, in particular integration or separation activity as a result of mergers, acquisitions, divestments or carve-outs. She has lived and worked across the UK and continental Europe, the USA, Middle East and Asia. Abi is also the Executive Sponsor for the Religious Ethnic and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network at Costain.

External appointments

Chair of the Board of Trustees at Volunteer Centre Camden and member of Business in the Community London Leadership Board.