Balfour Beatty KOs opposition with Punch chairman

INTERNATIONAL infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty has raided the West Midlands business community for its newest board member.

After wrestling Leo Quinn from defence supplier QinetiQ for its new chief executive earlier this year, the construction group has now persuaded the executive chairman of Punch Taverns, Stephen Billingham to join as a new non-executive director.

Billingham, whose appointment is with immediate effect, is no stranger to Balfour Beatty as his three decades of business and management experience, includes 11 years spent with Balfour Beatty’s predecessor BICC.

Billingham will stand down from his duties at Punch later this month, having helped the Burton-upon-Trent group whether an especially difficult 12 months involving a major debt restructuring.

He is also chairman of Anglian Water Group and a government-appointed NED of Urenco. Previously he was Finance Director of British Energy Group and WS Atkins.
 
Philip Aiken, chairman, Balfour Beatty, said: “I am delighted that Stephen has agreed to join the Balfour Beatty board.  He brings immense experience of different industries, including construction and support services, both from the supplier and the client side, as well as having a strong background in finance in several complex organisations.  

“Stephen will be the fifth new director to join in 2015, as we make good progress to strengthen both Balfour Beatty’s board and executive management.”