Chief operating officer Darren James will end 30-year stint at business this spring

Costain鈥檚 chief operating officer is set to become Keltbray鈥檚 new chief executive, 黑洞社区 understands.

Darren James is due to join the 拢500m turnover specialist this spring, ending a 30-year association with the listed contractor which stretches back to 1988 when he joined the firm from university.

darren james

The 52-year-old was appointed COO last May, the month former chief executive Andrew Wyllie stepped down, having previously been its managing director of infrastructure for 11 years.

James (pictured) sits on Costain鈥檚 10-strong executive board which also includes chief executive Alex Vaughan and chief financial officer Tony Bickerstaff.

In a statement Costain, which will unveil its 2019 results on 11 March, said: 鈥淐ostain doesn鈥檛 comment on rumour or speculation.鈥� Keltbray declined to comment.

But 黑洞社区 understands Keltbray owner Brendan Kerr, the current chief executive, will move into an executive chair role at the business which has been undergoing a rejig in recent months after the firm said it was making changes to improve flagging margins.

Last November Vince Corrigan, who is now Keltbray鈥檚 chief operating officer, told 黑洞社区 the firm will see income top the 拢500m mark for the first time when it publishes its 2019 results next month. But he warned operating margins needed to be closer to 6%. 鈥淢argins of 2% are not appropriate,鈥� he said at the time.

Keltbray, which recently won a 拢60m contract for piling, demolition and substructure work at the Elephant & Castle shopping centre in south London being built by Multiplex, has been searching for a new chief executive for a number of months to head up a business which has moved away from its traditional background of demolition and piling in recent years to target new markets including rail work, power and distribution and concrete structures.

James, who has spearheaded Costain鈥檚 push into HS2 work, along with nuclear and Highways England deals, will team up with several former Costain colleagues when he arrives. These include Keltbray鈥檚 group commercial director Peter Suchy and its specialist contracting services managing director John Price.

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