Boughton led the South West and Wales regional business of Bouygues for around five years, and before that worked at Willmott Dixon for around 14 years rising to deputy managing director in the south west.

As southern construction MD at Kier, Boughton will oversee a £123m flagship project at the University of Southampton, including a 15,000 sqm  teaching and learning building.

The business is also delivering expansion at HMP Elmley in Kent, part of the MoJ’s Accelerated Houseblocks Delivery Programme and a range of education projects including transforming the campus at Bournemouth and Poole College,  North Whiteley Secondary School and the regeneration of King’s Academy Bay House in Gosport.

He said: “This is an exciting time to be at Kier, and I am delighted to lead the southern business.

“The region has gone from strength to strength in recent years, driven by outstanding project delivery.”