Executive Board

Appointment

Alex was appointed to the Board as CEO in May 2019.

Skills and competencies 

Alex has worked in the infrastructure industry for more than 30 years and has extensive experience across programme delivery, private finance, operations and business leadership.

Alex joined Costain in 1992 and has been a member of the Executive Board since 2006. Before becoming CEO, Alex played a leading role in Costain’s transformation into a leading infrastructure solutions business through his leadership of the development and growth of the Group’s consultancy services. In his role as managing director, Natural Resources, Alex delivered significant growth in profit and margin. Alex is a qualified chartered quantity surveyor, has worked on infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally, and held various corporate roles across HR, strategy, M&A and corporate development. In 2009 he completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

External appointments

Member of the Business in the Community Leadership Council.

Appointment

Helen was appointed to the Board as CFO in November 2020.

Skills and competencies 

Helen has a strong financial background underpinned by her profession as a chartered accountant. She is an experienced public company chief financial officer with a high level of understanding of investor relations and change programmes, including in organisations undergoing periods of strategic change. Helen has also driven finance transformation programmes to significantly improve processes, systems and culture. She has worked in multiple sectors and is highly commercial, able to balance both short and long-term goals, develop strategic options and contribute broadly to the business. Prior to joining Costain, Helen held roles as chief financial officer of De La Rue and Premier Farnell. She has also held senior finance roles at Pelican Rouge, AZ Electronic Materials and HSS Hire.

External appointments

None

Appointment

Appointed in September 2019.

Skills and competencies 

Catherine joined Costain in 2006 and has performed a number of roles, including as director of learning and development and corporate responsibility (CR) and investor relations director. In 2019, Catherine became Group HR director and in 2022 took on additional responsibility for sustainability, becoming chief people and sustainability officer. Highlights of Catherine's career with Costain include developing and implementing the Group’s first CR strategy, achieving Platinum status in Business in the Community’s CR Index in 2013, driving change to achieve the Group’s recognition in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2018-2021 and Costain being cited as a game changer in 2019 for its work on gender parity in early careers recruitment. Catherine is a qualified executive coach and graduated with an honours degree in Environmental Science.

External appointments

None

Appointment

Appointed in April 2024.

Skills and competencies 

Jonathan was appointed managing director of Transportation in April 2024. He has a wealth of experience in infrastructure and joins Costain from Skanska, where he was managing director of Skanska UK’s Infrastructure Division, working to increase revenue and market share and delivering complex projects in sectors including highways, rail, energy and water. Prior to that, Jonathan was managing director of Alstom Transport UK’s Systems, Signalling and Infrastructure division, growing the business and winning and delivering key work from Network Rail, TfL and other transport bodies.

External appointments

None

Appointment

Appointed in July 2024.

Skills and experience

Paul was appointed as Costain’s Group commercial director in July 2024 after originally joining Costain in August 2011. Paul has performed a number of commercial leadership roles across the business, most recently as commercial services director. He has 30 years of experience in people, project and commercial management. Prior to joining Costain he was group commercial director for Promanex Group. Paul holds a master’s degree in business administration from Newcastle University.

External appointments

None

Appointment

Appointed in July 2022.

Skills and competencies 

Nicole is a highly experienced general counsel and company secretary with an extensive background in major/mega projects and infrastructure, covering the full asset lifecycle. Nicole spent six years on the HS2 project as general counsel and company secretary prior to joining Costain. She has significant international experience in rail/transport, engineering and project services and is an expert in public sector procurement, fit-for-purpose governance and effective risk management.

External appointments

None

Appointment

Appointed in January 2026.

Skills and competencies 

Peter was appointed managing director of Natural Resources in January 2026. With more than 20 years’ experience in complex engineering, programme management and consultancy environments, he brings a wealth of expertise in building and leading high-performing teams across the private and public sector.
Prior to joining Costain, Peter was managing director of Balfour Beatty’s regional civils business in the UK. He has also spent five years at Highways England (now known as National Highways) leading the delivery of the government’s £27bn road investment strategy and more than 15 years in engineering and construction consultancy businesses, including Aecom, EC Harris and Turner and Townsend.

External appointments

None