Murphy appoints Steve Hollingshead as new chief executive

Swansea Tidal Lagoon construction director and former Laing O’Rourke Australia boss to join contractor on 1 June.

Antony Oliver
28 April 2015

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Contractor J. Murphy & Sons has announced the appointment of Steve Hollingshead as its new chief executive.

Hollingshead is currently construction director of Tidal Lagoon Power the business behind construction of the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon scheme and joins the Murphy business on 1 June. His role at Swansea will be taken by former Balfour Beatty chief executive Andrew McNaughton.

Prior to joining Tidal Lagoon Power, Hollingshead spent 25 years with Laing O’Rourke and played a key role in the transformation of the O’Rourke business after its acquisition of Laing Construction in October 2001.

“With its rich heritage of innovative solutions, ability to self-deliver and entrepreneurial culture, Murphy has a very unique place in the industry and is ideally positioned to capitalise on the growing opportunities in the market"  Steve Hollingshead.

Until 2013 he was chief executive of the firm’s Australia business which has grown tot $3bn annual revenue and employs 7,000 people. He returned to the UK in May 2013 as director of human capital.

Hollingshead will take over the reins at Murphy from interim chief executive Matthew Behan who is understood to be returning to his former role as chief financial officer, having stepped in following the departure of John Stack in October last year.

“With its rich heritage of innovative solutions, ability to self-deliver and entrepreneurial culture, Murphy has a very unique place in the industry and is ideally positioned to capitalise on the growing opportunities in the market,” said Hollingshead.

“The capability and talent that exists within Murphy are impressive, and I very much look forward to working with my new colleagues to grow and broaden the company’s portfolio in the UK and overseas.”

In his new role Hollingshead will be responsible for developing  Murphy’s activities in the UK, as well as, taking a leading role in driving forward the company’s overseas activities.

Alastair Kerr, chairman of the Murphy Board, said: “Steve joins Murphy at a very exciting time of dynamic change and growth. With an impressive track record and with more than 35 years of experience in delivering major global infrastructure projects, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge. His experience will be instrumental in growing Murphy’s activities both in the UK and overseas.”

"Steve brings a wealth of knowledge. His experience will be instrumental in growing Murphy’s activities both in the UK and overseas.”Alastair Kerr, Murphy chairman

J. Murphy & Sons Limited, was established in 1951 by John Murphy, and is now a multi-disciplined business with a turnover of £954M and over 4,000 employees in offices in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and the Middle East

With a 60 year heritage based in infrastructure, civil engineering, tunnelling, rail, energy, water and wastewater, pipelines, building, highways, public realm and security, and piling sectors, the business is now involved in major projects such as Crossrail’s Thames Tunnel as well as having long standing asset management relationships with clients such as National Grid and UK Power Networks.

The business recently won a multimillion pound contract as part of the Thames Water Agility Alliance with Morrison Utility Services, and KCD - Kier Services and Clancy Docwra – which is set to deliver around £1bn worth of water network and developer services over the AMP6 period – a deal that could be extended to up to 15 years.

The business remains one of a handful of major UK-based tier 1 and 2 contractors still committed to directly employing, training and managing its own delivery workforce.