The announcement comes as Peter Zinkin, planning and developments director, the longest serving member of the existing board, also announced he will retire in April.

Zinkin was paid a base salary of £443,000 in 2013.

Aiken will remain non-executive chairman at Aveva, but will step down from his other job as non-ex director of National Grid this month.

Aiken, 66, is an Australian national and will pick up the reins at Balfour at the end of March.

He brings extensive international business experience in the industrials and resources sector having worked across the UK, US, Asia and the Middle East.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group chief executive, said: “Philip has many years of highly relevant international board-level experience at the top of industry and we look forward to his valuable contribution to the business, including areas of paramount importance to the group such as safety.

“The board is focused on the group wide transformation programme and capturing the significant opportunity to drive leaner stronger processes, improved profits and strong cash generation to the benefit of our shareholders.”