He takes on the role from former CEO Breandan Flynn who steps up to the role of executive chairman.

Kirkby brings more than 20 years of senior leadership across utilities, infrastructure and energy, including senior roles at SSE Energy Solutions, Balfour Beatty, and Enterprise.

He led SSE Enterprise’s transformation into SSE Energy Solutions, driving its push into distributed energy and decarbonisation.

Earlier in his career he ran Balfour Beatty’s global power networks business and served as CEO of Enterprise.

Kirkby said he was joining IES at “a pivotal moment” as turnover continues to climb, pledging to push growth and strengthen the group’s role in the utilities and energy infrastructure market.

Founded in 2018 as Clee Pipelines and later rebranded in 2020 as IES Utilities Group following a change in ownership to Flynn, the £41m turnover specialist has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive utility services provider.

It is now to setting its sights on exceeding £120m turnover in this financial year with a combined headcount of 800 staff.

Flynn, who has led IES through its recent growth, said Kirkby’s appointment was “a clear endorsement of the strength of the IES business” and would drive IES into its next phase of expansion.