Alan Lovell best known for turnaround work at firms including Costain
Interserve chair Alan Lovell has been confirmed as the new boss of the Environment Agency.
Lovell has been known as a turnaround specialist, credited with rescuing Costain during a stint as chief executive in the 1990s.
The 68-year-old has since worked at a number of struggling firms, including PFI and rail maintenance specialist Jarvis and the doomed contractor Carillion. He became chair of Interserve in July 2019.
The firm is expected to be shut down in 2024, having sold off or separated from most of its component businesses, including Tilbury Douglas. Lovell took over at Interserve after it went into administration, following a disastrous foray into the energy from waste sector.
Lovell was selected last month as the government’s preferred candidate to success Emma Howard Boyd as chair of the executive non-departmental body.
His appointment was confirmed last week, despite concerns raised in a pre-appointment hearing that his involvement in a hydrogen and carbon capture company could be a conflict of interest.
Lovell stood down as director of Progressive Energy, which has been chosen for a major government project in the north west, last month but refused to divest from the firm, insisting that his financial interest could be managed by recusing himself from decisions relating to the firm.
But MPs said they were “satisfied” with Lovell’s independence and “professional competence” and he has been confirmed for the role.
In her last major speech in the role, Howard Boyd highlighted that £650bn in infrastructure investments could be at risk if climate resilience is neglected.
She will be succeeded by Lovell in September, when her second term comes to an end.
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