July 2011
Halcrow group board director, Les Buck, retires this week after 31 years with the company.
Les leaves the business after 13 years on Halcrow’s group board. During this time, he contributed extensively to the group’s strategy and its focus on developing new markets outside of the UK, particularly in North America, where, through acquisition and organic growth, employee numbers have grown from 10 in 2003 to over 600 today. Between 2001 and 2003, Les was responsible for re-defining Halcrow’s transportation business, In 2001/02 he was chairman of Rail Link Engineering, the joint venture company responsible for delivering the UK’s High Speed 1, the channel tunnel rail link.
More recently Les has been group board member with responsibility for alliances, major project delivery, risk, technical excellence, sustainability and health and safety.
On his retirement Les will continue as a trustee of the Halcrow Trust, whilst his responsibilities have been taken up by other group board and executive team members.
Peter Gammie, Halcrow chief executive, said ‘After so many years with the business Les will be missed by many people. He’s played a major part in raising the company’s profile in North America and our ability to respond to the challenges of major project delivery. On behalf of the whole company I would like to thank Les for his unwavering commitment to Halcrow, and for the major role he’s played in our success.”