WSP has appointed Blair Mitchell to lead a combined team of all water specialisms across its UK business from January 2021. Starting his role as head of water this week (1/12/20) he brings over 25 years’ experience in the water sector and will be leading a 300-strong person business in the UK.

Mitchell joins WSP from Arcadis where he spent seven years as business director and partner for the water sector. Prior to that, he held roles at Mace, Sweco and Scottish Water.

The news follows hot on the heels of Charlie Hodgson’s appointment as WSP transport and infrastructure MD last month.

WSP currently works on some of the most significant projects in the UK for both regulated and non-regulated clients including Severn Trent Water, Northern Ireland Water, Yorkshire Water, HS2 and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, as well as a large portfolio of international projects.

Blair Mitchell, head of water at WSP, said: “Leading WSP’s combined water team is a truly exciting opportunity and one that I’m really looking forward to. The ambition, dedication and talent of the team, coupled with the many fantastic clients and projects WSP has, will help propel us towards becoming a top-tier water consultancy. 

"With government signalling its support for significant infrastructure projects to proceed and the climate emergency requiring evermore innovative resilience and adaptation solutions, 2021 is set to be an exciting year for water at WSP.”

Mark Hurley, managing director of water, energy and infrastructure at WSP, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Blair to WSP to lead the transformational change within our UK water offering. It’s a very exciting time to join our business with the brilliant clients we have and WSP’s industry-leading net zero ambitions.

“We pride ourselves on our dedication to our people, projects and clients and I know through Blair’s leadership that this ethos will thrive. We have a very talented team of diverse water engineers, consultants and advisors who focus on providing our clients with innovative and sustainable designs and advice, and I’m excited for Blair to meet them all and get started on delivering our ambition.”

In October, WSP UK committed to halving the carbon footprint of all designs and advice provided to clients by 2030 and is on course to be a net zero business in operation by 2025.