Dare worked at National Highways through the Roads Investment Strategy 2 period, steering it through the challenges of Covid 19, building greater collaboration and setting out the organisation’s intent towards net zero.

He presided over the major and ongoing procurement shift towards new integrated delivery mega frameworks, which will set the contractor procurement strategy for 10 years over RIS3/RIS4.

Dare also ordered leading tier 1 contractors to spell out anti-fraud and corruption policies two years ago amid concern of potential fraud and failure to procure subcontractors along agreed guidelines.

Before National Highways, he worked in the defence industry as supply chain director for BAE Systems – Submarines.

Dare said: “After 5 years, I have decided to accept a new role outside of National Highways. It has been a pleasure working with colleagues across the business and wider supply chain in taking our commercial and procurement work forward.”

Nick Harris, National Highways chief executive, said: “I would like to thank Malcolm for his service to National Highways. He has been an integral part of our organisation, working closely with our suppliers and playing a pivotal role in numerous areas, from the integration of modern software and in social value, equality and diversity, to name a few.”

He is the second senior director to leave in a month following Tony Slater, former managing director of the Smart Motorway Programme Alliance, who has left to join water company United Utilities.

As director of its new Enterprise organisation, Slater will develop its integrated and collaborative commercial model involving multiple strategic partners.

The new Enterprise division will deliver  £2.5bn of complex design and build capital investment improvements during the AMP8 investment period.