Keith Clarke will take over from chair Nick Raynsford next year and will act as deputy chairman in the interim

Keith Clarke, the chief executive of Atkins, is to be the next chairman of the Construction Industry Council.

Clarke was made chair of the health and safety committee in October.

He will take over from Nick Raynsford, the former construction minister, in June next year. In the interim he will act as deputy chairman.

Graham Watts, chief executive of the CIC, said: “As chair of the health and safety committee Keith has shown energy, enthusiasm and personal investment.”