Barhale has announced a reorganisation and strengthening of its senior management capacity to ensure it is best placed to meet future operational requirements and to build additional business resilience.

The move sees the creation of three new senior director roles and a redrawing of the business’s regional footprints to align with key clients.

The civil engineering, MEICA, and infrastructure specialist recently published its latest report and accounts, which showed it continues to perform strongly, with topline growth of 34% in financial year 2024–25 and an order book of £1.85 billion, in line with the strategic business plan put in place four years ago.

In total, five new director appointments are being made: James Ingamells, presently Northern Regional Director, will take up a newly created post of Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown, Ingamells will directly oversee all construction-related activity and operational safety.

Photo: Martin Brown, Chief Executive, Barhale

Martin Brown said:

“James has delivered for Barhale for more than 22 years and I see this appointment as allowing him to maximise his operational and client focus skills to drive our next stage of growth.

“Over the last four years we have mentored James for the new role and both myself and the shareholders believe he will be very successful.”

James Ingamells will work closely with the operational teams over the coming weeks to transition into his new role full time from January 2026.

Current Yorkshire Regional Director, Mark Wood also moves into a newly created position as Regional Director – HARP to lead Barhale’s team supporting Strabag on the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP), the United Utilities scheme to rehabilitate and reinforce the 110km pipeline supplying water across the North West.

Martin Brown highlighted Wood’s track record of driving programme management and building successful teams.

“Mark’s wealth of experience will be used to support the mobilisation and delivery of our works as a key supply chain delivery partner with Strabag on the £3 billion HARP project,” he said.

Barhale has appointed Johannes Esterhuyse to step into the Yorkshire Regional Director role. He was recruited in June 2025 to fulfil the strategic goal of strengthening the senior team and enhancing clients’ operational support across northern operations.

“Johannes brings 38 years of complex infrastructure experience with him which will be targeted on providing first class support for our client Yorkshire Water and to achieving the targets set out within the final determination of PR24,” said Martin Brown. “Since joining from AmcoGiffen six months ago, he has been working alongside Mark Wood to become fully embedded in the business and to ensure a smooth transition.”

The fourth appointment sees Barhale bring in Jonathan Moxom as Midlands Regional Director to spearhead a newly created Midlands region. Moxom returns to the UK after 13 years with North American construction giant Ellis Don, where he collaborated with Martin Brown on several Canadian projects.

“I have had first-hand experience working with both Jonathan and Ellis Don,” said Martin Brown. “His successful delivery record on large, complex, multi-discipline infrastructure projects is proven. This experience and his detailed approach on customer focus will enable our business to further develop and grow our relationship with our client Severn Trent.”

Martin Brown also revealed Barhale would shortly announce a North West Regional Director to lead a new North West region. “We see Barhale’s appointment to United Utilities Lot 2 AMP8 framework, alongside HARP, as a key driver of future growth within the North West and the creation of this third new senior director will spearhead delivery.”

Mark Wood, Johannes Esterhuyse and Jonathan Moxom’s appointments are all effective immediately.