Costain names Rohan O'Grady to lead HS2 London tunnels JV

Costain has appointed Rohan O'Grady as managing director of the Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS) joint venture delivering the London tunnels section of HS2, effective next month.

O'Grady replaces Jonathan Morris, who has led the venture on an interim basis for the past six months and will now take a sabbatical. O'Grady joins Costain from Australian contractor CPB Contractors, where he oversaw a string of major infrastructure projects.

Who is Rohan O'Grady?

O'Grady arrives with a CV built on large-scale delivery. At CPB Contractors, one of Australia's biggest infrastructure builders, he ran multiple major projects across the public and private sectors.

Jonathan Willcock, Managing Director, Transportation, at Costain, said: "With his enviable CV and a successful track record at delivering large-scale mega-projects for both the public and private sectors, Rohan will be an excellent addition to Costain and is perfectly placed to lead the fantastic team working as part of the SCS joint venture."

Willcock added: "Under his leadership, HS2's London tunnels will continue to be delivered safely and efficiently, which will be critical for the new high-speed railway that will add capacity to the network and drive UK prosperity for generations to come."

What does the change mean for HS2?

The SCS joint venture — Skanska, Costain and STRABAG — carries responsibility for the London tunnels, among the most technically demanding elements of the HS2 programme. Leadership continuity at the top of that venture comes at what O'Grady himself describes as a pivotal moment.

O'Grady said: "Costain has a unique heritage and a fantastic reputation for engineering excellence. I'm proud to be taking on the leadership of the SCS JV at such an important stage in the delivery of HS2."

He continued: "This is a project of enormous national significance, and I'm looking forward to working with the world-class expertise and talent that runs throughout the SCS JV to maintain momentum, ensure safety and build on the strong foundations that are already in place."

The appointment closes a six-month interim period under Morris and hands the London tunnels portfolio to a leader tested on comparably complex infrastructure abroad. O'Grady starts next month, with safety and schedule momentum on the tunnels cited by both Costain and the incoming MD as the immediate priorities.