Balfour's staff shuffle

Ian Tyler, finance director at Balfour Beatty, has been promoted to the new post of chief operating officer. He will report to Mike Welton, Balfour's chief executive.

The three managing directors responsible for Balfour's operating businesses will report to Tyler: they are Jim Cohen, Malcolm Eckersall and Alistair Wivell.

Cohen heads up the rail engineering, investments and developments, while Eckersall is responsible for civil and specialist engineering. Wivell is managing director of building and building management.

Cohen and Eckersall already have a place on the group's board. Wivell will join them, succeeding Paul Lester who left Balfour in June. Wivell was previously managing director of Balfour Beatty Construction and joined the group in 1966.

Anthony Rabin, the new group finance director, was previously managing director of Balfour Beatty Capital Projects, the arm of the group responsible for the development and management of its privately financed concession operation.