Kier has expanded the senior management team at its building maintenance division as part of a strategy to double turnover by 2009.

Kier 黑洞社区 Maintenance (KBM), part of Kier Support Services, aims to hit a 拢400m turnover in the next two years and has recruited staff for nine new posts. Among these is Tim Taylor, previously finance director of Vinci Park UK; he will be finance director for KBM South; Michael Williams, formerly head of operations at Worcester Community Housing, will be executive director of KBM Midlands. Rob Rosborough, a former bid director for utilities contractor Enterprise, was made commercial director of KBM North, and John Quirk, formerly a regional director of repairs and maintenance contractor Mears, is operations director for the North-west.

John Bradley, managing director of KBM, said: 鈥淲ith the prospect of major awards in the pipeline, we鈥檙e strengthening our resources in the South, Midlands and northern England to meet increasing demand.鈥�

KBM was formed five years ago, and now employs about 4,500 people. It recently won a 拢125m five-year contract in Harrow to repair and maintain 6,000 council buildings, including houses and schools.

It is also working on a 拢170m seven-year deal for Harlow council, an 拢86m contract with Hull council and is about to begin a 拢62m contract upgrading council properties for One Vision Housing in Merseyside.