Balfour Beatty has announced that Leo Quinn will take up his new position as chief executive officer (CEO) of the firm when he joins the Board on 1 January 2015.

Mr Quinn joins Balfour Beatty after five years as group chief executive of QinetiQ, which he has reshaped into a strong commercial competitor providing technology solutions in defence, security and aerospace.

From 2004-2008 Mr Quinn created substantial value as CEO of De La Rue, the largest non-government printer of banknotes, and prior to that led a number of international business transformations as Global President of Honeywell Building Controls and COO of Production Management, the largest division of Invensys PLC.

Educated at Imperial College, London and Portsmouth University, Mr Quinn holds an MSc in Management Science and a BSc in Civil Engineering. He began his career at Balfour Beatty in 1979 as a civil engineer in the UK construction services business.

Executive chairman Steve Marshall said: “I am delighted to welcome Leo to Balfour Beatty. Leo is an outstanding individual with an excellent track record in improving the performance of major international businesses. He has the depth and breadth of experience and the drive to lead our company through the next stage of its development. I am confident that Balfour Beatty will thrive under Leo’s leadership.”

Leo Quinn said: “Balfour Beatty is a world-leading brand with world-leading talent. Having started my career there, I am very proud to be rejoining a company so ingrained in British engineering, and am resolute in my ambition to realise its enormous potential for customers, employees and investors. The building blocks are there to give Balfour Beatty’s people the success they deserve and I am keen to work with them to create something significant and lasting.”

Quinn’s basic annual salary will be supplemented with pension and benefits in line with Balfour’s approved remuneration policy.