Atkins

Senior Management

The Group Executive is the chief executive’s senior management team through which the operational management of the business is discharged. It currently comprises the group finance director, the managing directors of businesses within our principal reporting business segments, the group HR director and the group communications director.

Keith Clarke

Chief Executive

Keith Clarke was appointed a director in October 2003. He is a chartered architect. He joined the Group from Skanska AB where he was executive vice president responsible for its activities in the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, India and China. He has over 30 years’ experience in construction and engineering, having previously worked for the City of New York, Olympia and York, Trafalgar House and Kvaerner. He is chairman of the Construction Industry Council, having previously chaired its Health and Safety Committee. He is also an advisory board member of the Built Environment Innovation Centre at Imperial College, London, a member of the Supporters at Large Group for Open House and patron of the Environmental Industries Commission.

Heath Drewett

Group Finance Director

Heath Drewett was appointed an executive director with effect from 15 June 2009, and took over as Group finance director on 19 June 2009. A graduate in mathematics from Peterhouse, Cambridge, he started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he qualified as a chartered accountant. He has held a variety of senior finance and corporate development roles at British Airways plc and The Morgan Crucible Company plc. He has spent the past seven years in BA’s finance team, most recently holding the position of head of business performance.

Alun Griffiths

Executive Director

Alun Griffiths was appointed a director in March 2007. He has a background in management consultancy and has led a wide range of projects in the areas of restructuring, organisational development and privatisation in the UK and internationally. He is an economics graduate and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He was appointed Group HR director in February 2003. Alun chairs the Industry Board of the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC), an organisation charged with progressing the government’s strategy for increasing the participation of women in science and engineering.

Tim Askew

Managing Director, Middle East and India

Tim Askew is a chartered engineer who joined the Group in 1978. His extensive experience in design, project and business management includes a diverse range of major ventures both in the UK and particularly overseas. In 1999 Tim was appointed to head the Middle East and India business which provides multidisciplinary services from nine regional offices. He joined the Group Executive in July 2006. Tim was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2009 in recognition of his engineering achievements, including his work with UK and overseas governments.

Richard Barrett

Managing Director, Europe

Richard Barrett joined Atkins in 1983 after graduating from the University of Nottingham. He is a chartered engineer with extensive experience in delivering major transportation projects ranging from planning, design and construction through to operation and maintenance of highways. Previously as Managing Director, Highway Services, he led the development of this business which provides integrated solutions in both the Highways Agency and Local Authority markets. He joined the Group Executive in May 2007 on his appointment as Managing Director of Europe.

Paul Dollin

Managing Director, Design and Engineering*

Dr Paul Dollin joined Atkins in 1999 and is a chartered engineer with a PhD in materials science. In his early career he worked in the nuclear sector for British Energy, and has since gained experience in both the public and private realms in areas such as education, property and power. Paul joined the Group Executive in April 2009.

Martin Grant

Managing Director, Energy*

Dr Martin Grant has been with Atkins since 1984. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and has been presented with the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal. His career with Atkins has been broad based, covering work in the oil and gas industry, the nuclear industry, and an assignment to the Channel Tunnel project. Martin became a member of the Group Executive in April 2009.

Richard Hall

Managing Director, Faithful+Gould

Richard Hall is managing director of Faithful+Gould where he was previously a senior partner and is responsible for the company's worldwide management and operations. He is a member of the Group Executive and has Group responsibility for the Atkins Asset Management and Atkins Defence Asset Management businesses. He has wide ranging experience in quantity surveying and cost management with particular emphasis on industrial, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries. Richard has recently relocated to the United States where he will continue to run Faithful+Gould and Atkins Asset Management but with added focus on the emerging US business.

Sara Lipscombe

Group Communications Director

Sara Lipscombe started her career at Atkins and returned in 2006. She has 20 years' experience directing international communications activities for organisations in the consulting engineering, gas/chemicals, construction, water utilities, environmental services, funeral services and private healthcare sectors. Sara is a linguist who has worked in the US, Europe and southern Africa.

Graham Roberts

Managing Director, Water and Environment*

Graham Roberts joined Atkins in 1986. He has a degree from Nottingham University in maths with engineering, and is a chartered mechanical engineer. During his career at Atkins he has established the Telecoms business, and led major growth in the defence business. Graham also chairs Atkins’ diversity steering committee and is a Pension Fund Trustee. Graham joined the Group Executive in April 2009.

Geoff Robins

Managing Director, Defence, Aerospace and Telecommunications*

Dr Geoff Robins has a PhD in physics from Liverpool University, and began his career working for the UK Government. He has over 25 years’ experience in consulting and began his Atkins career in 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Advantage Business Group where he was managing director. Advantage is now a fully integrated part of the Atkins Defence, Aerospace and Communications business. Geoff became a member of the Group Executive in April 2009.

Samson Sin

Managing Director, Atkins China

Samson Sin joined Atkins in 1983 after graduating from the University of Glasgow with BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering. A chartered engineer with over 20 years' experience in major civil engineering work, Samson is also a highly experienced project director for numerous large railway infrastructure projects in Hong Kong. Samson became a member of the Group Executive in July 2006.

Neil Thomas

Managing Director, Highways and Transportation

Neil Thomas joined Atkins in 1989 to work on major motorway and local authority highway schemes. Seconded in 1995 to the Connect JV for PFI roads, he was subsequently appointed CEO of the concession companies for three years. Neil returned to us in 2001 to head the design and technical consultancy within Highways and Transportation, with responsibility for our delivery to a wide range of Highway Authority and contractor clients. Neil became Managing Director of Highways and Transportation in July 2006 when he was also appointed to the Group Executive.

David Tonkin

Managing Director, Rail

David Tonkin was appointed managing director of our Rail business in July 2006, when he also became a member of the Group Executive. He joined Atkins in 2005 as Rail Finance Director where he has played a major role in the restructuring of the business. Previously he had over eight years' experience as a finance director with Hanson plc. His career to date has involved him in complex multi-site organisations across various industry sectors including: brewing & leisure, office services, financial services and the aggregates industry. David is a qualified cost and management accountant (ACMA).

Chris Birdsong

Managing Director, Management Consultants

Chris Birdsong joined Atkins in January 2007 and was appointed managing director of the Management Consultancy business in November 2007, when he also became a member of the Group Executive. Chris previously worked for Bechtel for over 30 years, during which time he delivered major projects in the environmental, heavy industry, transport and telecommunications sectors. Chris was also part of the team that developed and took USA Equinix public in 2002, becoming managing director of Equinix Europe, which provided telecommunication infrastructure in Europe and the USA. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting (IBC) and sits on the IBC Council.

* Defence, Aerospace and Telecommunications, Design and Engineering, Energy, and Water and Environment form the Design and Engineering Solutions reporting segment.