Construction firm Kier has promoted James Martin to health, safety, wellbeing & sustainability director and head of the Group's Responsible Business team.

James joined Kier on the Group's graduate programme in 1999 and has gone on to work on some of largest and most high-profile infrastructure projects in the UK, including Crossrail, Sellafield, Hinkley Point C and the channel tunnel. Most recently, James has been working as a project director for Eiffage Kier Ferrovial BAM Nuttall (EKFB), which is responsible for delivering 80km of civil engineering works for HS2.

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James will start the role on 04 September and will report directly into the Group’s chief people officer, Louisa Finlay.

The current holder of the role, Chris Lilley, has also been promoted to a regional director within the Eastern and Midlands region of the Group’s Construction business. Over the past 2 years, Chris has created a new health, safety and wellbeing strategy and overseen a strong improvement in the Group’s safety performance. He has helped to put the wellbeing of colleagues and supply chain at the same level as health and safety by developing a partnership with the Lighthouse Club and introduced a new employee assistance provider.

Chris has also played a leading role in the design and roll out of a culture programme across the Group, as well as developing Kier’s evolved sustainability framework and maintaining an industry-leading approach to health and safety.

Both James and Chris have taken part in Building Leaders, Kier's talent development programme with Cranfield University which is aimed at supporting people into senior roles.