Zafar Khan, who only joined the beleaguered firm in January, will be replaced by Emma Mercer, who steps up from being finance director of the UK construction division to become chief financial officer.

Also going at the end of the month are chief operating officer Richard Howson, Carillion Construction Services managing director Adam Green and Carillion Services managing director Nigel Taylor.

Group strategy director Shaun Carter will also leave at the end of the year.

Richard Howson stepped down as chief executive when Carillion announced a massive profit warning in July. He was then kept on to help the transition of the business to interim chief executive Keith Cochrane, while a search for a permanent replacement continues.

He was due to leave next year but will now depart at the end of the month when Carillion unveils its delayed half-year results.

Mr Cochrane will be assisted in the rescue plan by Lee Watson, who joins Carillion today on secondment from Ernst & Young as chief transformation officer. Lee Watson has been a partner at EY since 2008 during which time he has advised on numerous transformations and restructurings for UK companies.

Andy Jones, currently president and chief executive of Carillion Canada, has been appointed chief operating officer and will take up this role on October 1.