Directorate changes
Summary by AI BETAClose X
12 November 2026
Kier Group plc - Directorate changes
Kier Group plc (the Company or the Group) today announces its intention to appoint Louise Atkinson and Edel Christie as Independent Non-Executive Directors of the Company with effect from 1 December 2026.
The appointments follow a comprehensive succession process and form part of the Board's ongoing succession planning arrangements.
The Company also announces that Alison Atkinson has stepped down from the Board with effect from 11 November 2026 in order to focus on her executive responsibilities. As such, Alison will not stand for re-election at the Kier annual general meeting being held later today and resolution 6 is withdrawn. The withdrawal of resolution 6 does not affect the validity of the Notice of annual general meeting, the related proxy form or any proxy votes already submitted in respect of the remaining resolutions to be proposed at the meeting. The numbering of all other proposed resolutions at the meeting remains unchanged. All other arrangements for the meeting are unchanged from those previously notified. Following Alison's retirement from the Board, Mohammed Saddiq has been appointed as Chair of the ESG Committee with immediate effect.
Matthew Lester, Group Chair, said:
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Alison for her outstanding contribution to Kier. Throughout her tenure, Alison has brought considerable operational, engineering and infrastructure expertise, together with the energy, challenge and insight that have helped shape many of the Board's discussions and decisions. The Board is particularly grateful for Alison's leadership as Chair of the ESG Committee, where she has played an important role in supporting the development of the Group's sustainability agenda and embedding ESG considerations within the Company's governance framework.
We fully understand her decision to focus on her expanding responsibilities at Anglo American and congratulate her on her continued professional success.
I would also like to thank Mohammed Saddiq for agreeing to assume the role of Chair of the ESG Committee. Mohammed's significant Board and Committee experience, together with his strong understanding of governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement, will ensure a seamless transition and continued oversight of the Group's ESG priorities.
I am also delighted to be welcoming Louise Atkinson and Edel Christie to the Board with effect from 1 December 2026. Their intended appointments further strengthen the breadth of skills, experience and perspectives represented around the Board table. Their knowledge and expertise will support Kier as we focus on our strategic priorities of growth, resilience and performance.
Louise Atkinson will bring extensive experience of leading highly regulated and operationally complex businesses alongside significant recent expertise in culture and organisational effectiveness.
Edel Christie will bring extensive executive leadership, customer, transformation and commercial experience, together with a strong track record of delivering strategic change and business performance improvement.
Together, their complementary skills will further enhance the Board's ability to support the delivery of Kier's long-term strategic objectives and sustainable value creation for all stakeholders.
The Board remains committed to maintaining an appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and perspectives. The intended appointments of Louise Atkinson and Edel Christie will enhance the diversity of the Board and result in female representation increasing to 44.4%, exceeding the 40% target set out in the UK Listing Rules."
Louise Atkinson
Louise Atkinson is the CEO of Babcock International Group plc’s Land and Mission Systems business and member of Babcock’s Executive Committee. The Land and Mission systems business serves civil defence and government customers, mainly in the UK, which includes multiple long-term, government-facing contracts. Louise’s extensive background leading operational delivery in complex environments is enhanced by having recently served as Babcock’s Chief People Officer leading the Group's people strategy.
Louise brings a depth of executive experience spanning operational delivery, customer and government relations, and strategic positioning to develop new products and partnerships in an operationally intensive businesses. Additionally, Louise brings insight from leading organisational transformation, talent and succession planning, workforce engagement, leadership development and culture across a complex international business operating in highly regulated sectors.
Louise’s experience will strengthen the Board's government, operational and industry insight together with oversight of people, culture, succession, remuneration and organisational effectiveness.
Edel Christie
Edel Christie is Global President of Arcadis’ Places business, leading circa 10,000 employees and more than €1.3bn in annual revenue. Her portfolio includes Arcadis’ €300m APM business, which delivers Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services for clients across Life Sciences and Semiconductors. Edel is a member of the Arcadis executive leadership team. Edel is an experienced executive and business leader with an extensive track record of leading customer-focused businesses, driving strategic transformation and driving organisational effectiveness.
Edel has held senior leadership positions across large and complex organisations, bringing significant expertise in customer strategy, commercial performance, operational leadership, organisational transformation and stakeholder engagement.
Edel's experience in delivering growth, leading change programmes and creating long-term value will provide valuable insight and challenge to the Board as Kier continues to execute its strategic priorities.
Regulatory Disclosures
In accordance with the Listing Rules, there is no further information required to be disclosed pursuant to LR6.4.6R.
The Company’s Legal Entity Identifier (“LEI”) is 2138002RKCU2OM4Y7O48.
- Ends -
For further information, please contact:
|
Ezra Bigland, Head of Investor Relations |
+44 (0)7434 505 871 |
|
Kier Press Office |
+44 (0)1767 355 096 |
|
Richard Mountain, FTI Consulting |
+44 (0)203 727 1340 |
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