Duncan Symonds joins engineer, which also loses MD of environment and energy division as part of restructure

Duncan Symonds, head of infrastructure at WSP UK

Duncan Symonds

Engineer WSP has appointed former Laing O’Rourke director Duncan Symonds as UK head of infrastructure.

Symonds previously headed Laing O’Rourke’s infrastructure division, a position he left in March this year. He was also the leader for the Crossrail project at Transport for London between 2007 and 2008.

Mark Naysmith, WSP’s UK deputy managing director, said: “Developing our capability in infrastructure across a wider sector base is key to our
long-term growth strategy. Duncan’s experience and expertise will help us continue to grow our UK infrastructure division.”

Symonds arrival comes as Stuart McLachlan, managing director of WSP Environment & Energy, leaves the business as part of a restructure. The firm has brought the division, which until now has been a standalone entity, under the leadership of the main business.

McLachlan had at the helm of the environment and energy business since its inception 16 years ago but it will now be the responsibility of UK managing director Paul Dollin.

A spokesperson for WSP said there would be no “significant impact” on staffing levels as a result of the restructuring.