Derek Sharkey (pictured) has joined the public-private partnership (PPP) and capital investment services team in London as technical director. Previously of Sweett Investment Services, Derek has worked in the PPP industry for 14 years and has been involved in over £1bn worth of PPP projects in various roles from bid director to chief executive.

Derek said: “The opportunity to drive WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s PPP business forward is an exciting prospect.  My experience in investment and bid management will complement the broad range of services WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff currently provide”.

Gary McCarthy, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff head of PPP and capital investment services, said “Derek joins at an exciting time as our services, which we offer to clients active across PPP and real estate financing and investment, are growing in scope and scale. The newly combined business has given us a truly world class depth of technical resource and we look forward to Derek driving our business forward”.

Ronan Finch has been appointed as technical director in the highways and bridges business in Birmingham. Ronan has 29 years’ experience in the sector and worked most recently as an associate at AECOM. Ronan has been involved in multiple highways works across the Midlands, working with both public and private sector clients.

Ronan said: “Having been involved in the merging of operations of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and in the continued development of a client-focused, technically excellent team, I am keen to remain involved in multi-disciplinary projects and in the strengthening of our relationships with the evolving Highways England, in regard to its SMP, RIS and strategic studies programmes.”

Douglas Walker joins as technical director for structures in Scotland, Douglas brings years of hands-on experience delivering high-profile projects in the higher education and healthcare sectors. He formerly worked for Jacobs/SKM and has worked on the RIBA Stirling Prize shortlisted Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Lanarkshire.

Douglas commented: “This is an exciting time to join WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff. I am looking forward to being part of the highly skilled, dynamic and growing team, with a clear focus on delivering quality for our clients.”

Senior project manager Allan Ashenden joins the London building services team from Heathrow Airport. Allan has worked in design management for over 25 years across Aviation and Automotive sectors of industry, in Europe and Asia. He has worked on a number of well-known projects including Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, and Heathrow Airport Terminal 2.

Allan said: “I joined WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff to strengthen the design management offering at Heathrow airport. I plan to lead and influence the demonstration of best practice application for design assurance.”