A NATIONWIDE engineering consultancy with offices in Peterborough has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of a new UK managing director.

Max Joy OBE joined Grontmij UK on 1 March directly from the British Army in which he served for 28 years. For the past three years, Mr Joy was based at Army Headquarters, Andover, where he was assistant head capability development equipment support.

A chartered mechanical engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Mr Joy was awarded the OBE in 2011 for outstanding leadership and engineering management achievements. He replaces interim managing director, Jeff Davitt, who will support Mr Joy’s induction into the business in the role of chief operating officer.

Mr Joy joins Grontmij UK following its acquisition in October last year by Europe’s leading architecture and engineering consultancy, Sweco, which has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Sweco has 14,500 employees, sales of approximately SEK 16 billion (£1.3 billion) and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Welcoming Mr Joy to the company, Sweco president and chief executive officer, Tomas Carlsson, said: “With Mr Joy Joy, we are getting a strong leader as well as engineer, which will allow us to further strengthen Sweco’s positions in the UK. Mr Joy will be instrumental in implementing our strategic plans for the UK and ensure that we are the first choice for clients and talents.”

In the UK, the company employs 800 people and has particular expertise in the fields of energy, transportation, environment, asset management, sustainable buildings and water. It consults on major projects nationwide via its network of offices in Peterborough, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Maidenhead, Manchester, Newcastle and Solihull.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Joy, said: “Sweco is an ambitious business dedicated to being the most approachable and committed partner with recognised expertise. We have a highly skilled team here in the UK that is entirely aligned with this way of working and we can also provide our clients with direct integrated access to Sweco’s vast experience and technical expertise.

“These are exciting times for both our business and British industry. I look forward to working with colleagues and clients to deliver outstanding consultancy services that will help design the UK’s cities and communities of the future.”

For further information on Grontmij and Sweco visit www.grontmij.co.uk and www.swecogroup.com.