Kier has appointed Laing O’Rourke delivery director Martin Staehr as its new group managing director for construction.

Staehr will take up the role in January 2026, joining Kier’s executive committee to lead the firm’s Regional Build, Strategic Projects, Kier Places and KME businesses.

A chartered civil engineer and fellow of the ICE, Staehr has spent the past 17 years at Laing O’Rourke, most recently as one of its European delivery directors.

His experience spans major justice, defence, health, science and education schemes and MEP manufacturing operations.

He replaces Stuart Togwell, who becomes chief executive of Kier Group on 1 November. Construction commercial director James Askew will act as interim MD until Staehr joins.

He inherits an order book worth £4.5bn and a division that delivers around 200 live projects across England, Scotland and Wales.

Kier Construction generated £1.9bn in revenue last year, completing the UK’s first all-electric prison at HMP Millsike, maintaining over 70,000 homes and creating £275m of social value alongside 734 apprenticeships.

Togwell said: “Martin brings fresh thinking and a drive to make a meaningful difference within the construction industry”