Managing director of Costain’s transport division, Sue Kershaw, is leaving the company after almost four years.
The role, which involves responsibility for the company’s highways, rail and aviation work, will be taken up by group commercial director David Taylor on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Kershaw’s departure comes at a difficult time for Costain’s transport arm as the company looks to diversify its focus on roads schemes and HS2.
In June, the firm pulled out of the £1.3bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade less than a year after being appointed by National Highways.
A £100m roads plan for Lancashire County Council also failed, with the council saying it had suspended work to reassess the plans in light of rising costs.
In May, the company’s work to improve barriers on the M62 was canceled following a national highways assessment.
Costain’s half-year results in August showed an improved net cash position, although revenue, pre-tax profit and operating margin weakened.
At the time, chief executive Alex Vaughan said Costain’s road and rail programs had undergone a “short-term makeover”.
Kershaw was appointed in 2020 as part of a leadership shakeup designed to avoid the costly disputes and loss-making work that had dogged the company in the past.
Prior to joining Costain, she served as Managing Director of KPMG’s Infrastructure Advisory Group and before that was Head of UK Infrastructure Program Management for KPMG Major Projects Advisory.
A civil engineer who started her career with Taylor Woodrow, she went on to become Director of Rail, Europe at CH2M and Deputy Director of Transport at the Olympic Delivery Authority.
A company spokesman said: “After almost four years as managing director of the transport division, Sue Kershaw has decided to leave Costain.
“Sue has played an important role in supporting Costain’s most important clients, professionally overseeing the division’s projects as well as our role in the HS2 joint venture.”
Kershaw had championed key areas such as delivery partnership, design management, progressive assurance and integrated transport.
A permanent replacement will be announced “as soon as possible.”
