Connect Plus Services (CPS) has appointed Louise Haining as managing director with responsibility for leading its M25 operations.
The CPS consortium comprises Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis and has responsibility for operating and maintaining the 250-mile M25 motorway network, including routine maintenance, winter maintenance, and managing five tunnels and 2,500 structures such as bridges, culverts, and overhead gantries.
Ms Haining is a Chartered Engineer with 30 years’ experience within the construction and infrastructure industry.
Since joining CPS in 2017 she has held several roles across the organisation, including asset and project delivery director and most recently interim managing director.
She was instrumental in introducing the digital twin of the M25 in 2020, which produces highly accurate geo-referenced 2D and 3D outputs and provides over 23 billion data points.
Prior to joining CPS she worked at Costain, the Environment Agency and National Highways, working on schemes including The Hungerford Bridge in London and the Folkestone to Cliff Edge Coastal Protection Scheme in Kent.
Ms Haining said: ‘My focus will remain on data as a strategic imperative to prioritise decision-making so that we keep the M25 safe and fit for purpose, whilst also continuing to identify ways of reducing delays and improving journey time reliability for the travelling public.’
Phil Clifton, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, said: ‘Louise has worked with us for many years and has demonstrated time and again, the leadership qualities she possesses.
‘I look forward to seeing her flourish in her new role and seeing her wealth of knowledge and expertise drive our asset management capability to deliver value through more predictable and safer journeys.’
CPS operates and maintains the network on behalf of Connect Plus – a consortium including Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investments Partners that has a 30-year contract with National Highways through a private finance initiative.