Baroness Kate Rock will take over as chair of the Costain Group in December, to coincide with the previously announced departure of Paul Golby.

Baroness Rock (pictured) will be appointed to the Costain board on 1 November as an independent non-executive director and chair designate and will take over as chair on 1 December.

Costain announced in March that Mr Golby intended to step down as chair and non-executive director once the search for a successor had been concluded. He will remain as chair until 1 December.

Baroness Rock will also be appointed to the nomination committee of the Costain board on 1 November and will become chair of that committee when she becomes chair of the board.

She said: 'I am delighted to be joining a team with a clear strategy and history of delivery in the growing UK infrastructure market [and] look forward to contributing to the next stage of the Group's development.'

Mr Golby said: ‘I have been proud to serve as chair of Costain for more than six years. I am confident that the strong progress made will ensure Costain continues to fulfil its purpose to improve people's lives through connected, sustainable infrastructure. I wish Kate every success.'

Senior independent director Tony Quinlan said that Baroness Rock ‘brings a strong understanding of the construction contracting sector, the application of innovation and technology to drive productivity enhancements, and of government'.

He added: ‘Her background in corporate communications and strategy, as well as her natural energy and new ideas, will support the acceleration of our transformation.

‘On behalf of the Board and Company, I would also like to thank Paul for his considerable contribution to Costain for over six years. He has led Costain through a period of significant change and leaves the Group in a strong position for the future.'

Baroness Rock has been senior independent director of Keller Group plc since 2020. She is a senior adviser at business communications consultancy Instinctif Partners and was previously a managing partner of its predecessor, College Hill Associates.

She is currently a member of the House of Lords Select Committee for Science and Technology. She is also a non-executive director of Unbound Group plc and was previously a non-executive director of Imagination Technologies plc.