Karen Brookes retires after nine years at contractor
Sir Robert McAlpine has said that its chief people officer has left the business after nine years at the contractor.
Karen Brookes joined the firm in 2017 and was a member of both its executive leadership team and the McAlpine board.
In a statement, McAlpine said: “After nine years of exceptional service, Karen Brookes took a well-earned early retirement at the end of January 2026. She helped guide the business through some of the most challenging periods our industry has faced in recent history, including the complexities of the covid pandemic.
“We are immensely grateful for Karen’s energy, expertise and strategic vision, which have made her an invaluable part of our senior leadership, and we wish her a long and fulfilling retirement.”
The firm added that Brookes “now intends to focus on supporting organisations in building their capability using her extensive, multi-sector experience in addition to the volunteering work she has been undertaking for some time”.
McAlpine said Rachael Smith has succeeded Brookes and been appointed as people and shared services director.
She has been at the firm 14 years after joining the business from the army where she spent a decade.
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