Howden has identified the leading players in its new construction specialist team in London and Dubai – with a number of established infra names taking key roles.

IJGlobal has been tracking recent hires with the appointment of a number of infra advisers from Aon under Paul Tubb who now serves as executive director and head of infrastructure assets in London.

Tubb reports to Naresh Dade – global head of construction. Dade works alongside Andrew Harrison Sleap, deputy global head of construction.

Of the swathe of new hires, the most significant is Andrew Birt – executive director and head of UK projects. He will also serve as chair of the infrastructure asset team. Like Tubb, Birt will report to Dade.

Another key hire being announced today is the employment of Neil Higgins to the role of executive director and head of claims for construction and infrastructure assets.

The team under Tubb and Birt (as previously reported) includes:

• Matheu Challinor – divisional director, infrastructure assets
• Karen O’Donnell – divisional director, infrastructure assets
• Nicole Welch – associate director, infrastructure assets
• Emma Archer – associate director, infrastructure assets
• Jack Gilbert – account executive, infrastructure assets

This investment in talent will strengthen Howden’s existing team focused on international projects. Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that Aon's construction and power division has been (almost) halved in the last 18 months – down from around 60 to 30. Aon has since replaced the majority of these people.

The new hires join executive directors John Perrin and Mark Playle; divisional director Robert Webb; associate directors Orla Crosara, and Leandro Ramirez, and Connor Martiello, an account handler servicing international clients across Howden’s construction portfolio.

Dade said: “As a division and as a business we are excited to see how this highly experienced group of individuals will elevate our construction and infrastructure offering to rival that of any of our competitors.”