Chris Johnson is already on Balfour Beatty鈥檚 executive committee, as chief information officer and group procurement director. In addition to these roles, he is now also chief technology offer (CTO), a newly created role.
The company said that the appointment was 鈥渢o support its growing focus on technology and innovation as a strategic imperative for the infrastructure and construction industry鈥�.
Chris Johnson has been with Balfour Beatty since 2015 and has been instrumental in reforming back office systems and processes as part the company鈥檚 return to profit under chief executive Leo Quinn and his 鈥榖uild to last鈥� programme.
Leo Quinn said: 鈥淥ur industry is probably a generation behind manufacturing in deploying technology to drive efficiency and innovation 鈥� as well as historically resistant to learning and applying lessons from other sectors. As a market leader, Balfour Beatty must lead this change to drive continuous improvement across our business and ensure we are the best positioned to deliver for our clients, despite skills shortages in all aspects of construction and engineering. Combining this with our ongoing procurement cost management underpins our vision of profitable managed growth.鈥�
Chris Johnson said: 鈥淲ith enhanced BIM modelling, virtual reality, drones and laser scanning to name but a few, new technologies and data, when adopted, embedded and utilised effectively, have the power to transform the infrastructure and construction industry through lowering cost, improving quality and transparency and enhancing safety.
鈥淎cross Balfour Beatty, there are unrivalled opportunities for real step changes that will help drive improvements and innovation for the infrastructure and construction industry as a whole.鈥�
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