The Royal BAM group has appointed John Wilkinson, former director at Laing O’Rourke to become Chief Operating Officer of its civil engineering division.

The veteran UK civil engineer has held senior positions with leading British civil engineering companies.

He was previously managing director UK Infrastructure Laing O’Rourke – other senior positions have included executive director Services at Kier and managing director at May Gurney.

Wilkinson is currently president of infrastructure at international consultant SNC-Lavalin, based in Montreal, Canada.

He will take up his new role as COO at the division from 5th October and also join the Group’s Executive Committee.