Tony Dixon joined Morgan Sindall last March from Balfour Beatty where he was major projects boss, filling the gap left by Peter Jacobs who took early retirement.

Morgan Sindall has recruited ex-Kier central business unit director Ian Cheung to fill Dixon’s post and also take on the wider southern region stretching from the south east to Cornwall and South Wales.

Pat Boyle, managing director of Morgan Sindall’s Construction and Design business, said: “Ian’s experience and insight will make a significant contribution to what is already a very strong senior team.

“We continue to focus on growing and making the most of our extensive capabilities across the South and West. Ian’s exceptional vision, drive and leadership will place us in the strongest possible position to achieve this.”

Before joining Kier Marriot as managing director in June 2011, Cheung worked as managing director of Shepherd Construction’s southern division.

Cheung (above), 51, brings extensive experience across both public and private sectors, including major regional and national frameworks.

He will oversee a business that has a number of high profile and strategically important construction projects, including being a key part of project teams delivering major regeneration schemes in both Bournemouth and Slough.

The other construction regions are led by Harry Thorburn in Scotland, Dave Smith in the North and John Homer in the East.