Former Balfour Beatty project manager Alistair Kennedy becomes the firm’s new executive director, after spending two years as construction manager on a SA$10bn (£690m) power station in South Africa.

Mr Kennedy spent more than 20 years at Balfour Beatty before joining WSP in 2013, where he has held management roles in the company’s power, nuclear, civil engineering and railway sectors.

Other senior moves include Gianluca Barletta, who is the firm’s new head of smart consultancy, having spent five years as vice-president of business development for the company’s Canadian arm.

Meanwhile, Daymion Jenkins has rejoined the firm as technical director in its ground risk and remediation team, moving from consultancy firm ERM.

Mark Jones has been poached from rivals Aecom and will become technical director in the Cambridge building services team.

David Moulder, previously a Middle East-based design manager, will now lead the firm’s Manchester building services team.