Balfour Beatty Vinci appoints MD for HS2

Balfour Beatty Vinci has appointed Mark Cutler managing director for its HS2 joint venture.

Balfour Beatty Vinci is currently shortlisted for four of the seven HS2 rail infrastructure main civils works packages valued at more than £4 billion (€4.56 billion) in total.

A chartered civil engineer, Cutler has experience across the UK infrastructure market spanning a 26-year career. He rejoined Balfour Beatty last year as director of strategic projects, having previously led the group’s UK regional construction and civil engineering businesses.

Cutler was previously CEO of Barhale and managing director of Morgan Est following his early career in Carillion, during which time he oversaw major projects on the UK’s West Coast upgrade and High Speed 1.

Balfour Beatty Vinci claims to represent a “powerhouse for critical infrastructure” with a track record in delivery of high profile projects including the Channel Tunnel rail link, and a portfolio of live projects including Crossrail in London, and the UK’s M4, M5 and M6 Smart Motorway package.

HS2 is expected to create opportunities for the UK construction industry with around 25,000 jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships, supply chain partnerships and local enterprises, as well as boosting capacity on the existing rail network and improving journey times between London, the West Midlands and further north.

Successful contractors for the main civils works will be announced in mid-2017 with mains work construction expected to start in 2018.