Firm looking to grow civils and structures work

John F Hunt has brought in a regional build director from Balfour Beatty to a new role of operations director at its demolition and civils business.

The division, called John F Hunt Ltd, also includes structures with Darren Potter starting work there this week.

His CV also includes spells at John Laing, where he started as a project engineer, Laing O’Rourke, that took in more than 12 years, and Careys where he was head of delivery.

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Darren Potter is filling a newly created role of operations director

The firm said: “Previously involved in tendering and delivery of complex schemes with values upwards of £60m, his aptitude for negotiation, execution and hand over of high-profile projects will be an asset to the business.â€

His background includes aviation and MoD work as well as HS2 and nuclear schemes.

Potter is being joined at the firm next week by Nick Blackman, formerly a pre-construction director at General Demolition. He will become a pre-construction lead at Hunt when he joins next Monday.

In its last set of results, John F Hunt said it expected workloads to remain buoyant in 2024.

The firm said income was up 44% to £157m in the year to March 2023 with pre-tax profit up 73% to £9.5m. Revenue at its demolition and civils arm was up 15% to £67m while turnover at its biggest arm, regeneration, doubled to £79m.