AKELA Group has announced two new managing directors of its construction and ground engineering subsidiaries.
Robert Ogg has been appointed MD of Akela Construction, while Will Payne has been promoted to MD of Akela Ground Engineering.
Robert Ogg has held previous positions at Morgan Sindall as MD of Scottish infrastructure works and Balfour Beatty, leading the delivery of key frameworks and projects. Most recently, he was the UK national frameworks director at Robertson Group for five years.
He will be responsible for managing Akela Construction’s pipeline of work and identifying new opportunities across the civil engineering, renewables and energy sectors.
Robert led the BAA Scottish Airports Framework and played a key role assisting the Scottish Government in the creation of the pan-Scotland Civil Engineering Framework.
He said, “Akela Construction has established itself as a trusted partner of choice for civil engineering and groundworks solutions, making it an exciting time to join the team. With self-delivery being at the fore of everything that Akela do, I will continue to ensure that projects are completed to the highest standards of quality and efficiency for our clients.
“I look forward to developing the strong client relationships that are already in place as well as introducing new ones that will further strengthen our pipeline and realise the group’s vision.”
Will Payne has served as general manager for Akela Ground Engineering since May 2023. Prior to joining the business, he worked for Roger Bullivant, managing and overseeing the delivery of piling projects across the Midlands, East Anglia and Gibraltar. With over two decades of experience in specialist foundations, he has also held positions with Van Elle and Aarsleff.
Will played a key role in the development of A-Beam, Akela’s precast concrete beam system, which was brought to market earlier this year and has the ability to speed up the delivery of new homes.
He said, “The construction sector is in a phase of rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements, changing regulations and societal demands for sustainability, prefabrication and modular construction, to name a few. In my new role, I plan to build on the current successes at Akela Ground Engineering, empowering the team to deliver innovative ground engineering solutions for clients all over the UK.”
Mark Markey, group CEO for Akela, added, “We’re delighted to welcome Robert to Akela Construction, and the wider Akela Group, as we look towards an exciting future. Robert’s extensive experience will be vital in supporting our business growth. He will further develop our existing client relationships within the housing sector and play a pivotal role in our Group strategy, which is focused on expansion into new and developing sectors.
“Will’s appointment as managing director of our ground engineering business will help us focus our energies on expanding our reach across the UK and delivering innovative solutions for our clients. Over the last year, Will has proven to be an integral part of the Akela team, working hard to ensure standards, safety and the continuous innovation of our service delivery.
“There is already a strong synergy between Will and Robert, who, while working separately, will use their varied experiences and skills to drive success across the whole Akela Group and achieve our collective goals.”
