Former executive chair of Mott MacDonald, Mike Haigh, has died aged 64.

Haigh, who was also a former chair of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday 30 March.

A true champion of industry and the sector, Haigh became chair of ACE in 2017.

A great mentor and leader, he trained as a civil engineer, joining Mott MacDonald as a graduate in 1981.

He embarked on a career in which he actively sought out the biggest challenges, from leading major infrastructure projects to driving growth in new markets and running the group’s regional businesses.

He spent three years as executive chair of Mott MacDonald and guided it through many changes including its digital transformation, a greater emphasis on technical and professional excellence - and the pandemic.

He was also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

After four decades with Mott MacDonald, he retired from the company in 2022.

Haigh championed the engineering industry throughout his career, serving as chair of the World Economic Forum Infrastructure Industries Governors Group and as a member of the FIDIC Global Leadership Forum Advisory Board where he was championing the development of the carbon management framework.