Ramboll, the engineering, design and sustainability consultancy, has appointed Phil Hodges as head of energy, UK to lead the company’s rapidly growing energy division. 

He has also joined the UK executive team.  

Hodges joins Ramboll following seven years as managing director for engineering company AFRY Solutions, where he led its UK and Ireland engineering consulting function, and renewables business in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands. 

He brings to Ramboll a wealth of experience in business growth having recently completed two successful M&As at AFRY and has extensive knowledge of the energy sector, having worked on major schemes at AFRY. 

He also served as a commissioned officer for the Royal Navy, delivering several energy related projects for the Ministry of Defence. 

Hodges said: “Our industry has a crucial role to play in decarbonisation and supporting the pace of the green energy transition. 

“This poses incredible challenges, which require scale, expertise, and a range of technologies to overcome them. 

“I’m passionate about being part of that journey and am thrilled to be joining a company that is not only a world leader in this space, but also walks the talk in terms of its focus on its people and commitment to sustainability”. 

Jake Kelly has been named as the new managing director for Network Rail's Eastern region.

Currently the company’s system operator director, Kelly starts his new role on September 4.

The appointment follows recent news that current Eastern region MD - Rob McIntosh – has been appointed MD North West and Central region, and the confirmation of Ellie Burrows as MD Southern region.

Kelly said: “Having spent almost five years as managing director for East Midlands Trains, the eastern region feels like home to me, so it is wonderful to be picking up the reins from Rob McIntosh. 

“There are big shoes to fill and undoubtedly big challenges ahead. My priority will be on delivering for our Eastern regions passengers and freight customers and building on the existing positive engagement with regional stakeholders.

“Likewise, I’ll be committed to building on the great safety record across the region and creating a positive and inclusive place to work for the thousands of colleagues across the region who do brilliant work, day in, day out.”

Kelly joined Network Rail in 2019 as passenger director for North West and Central region, then joining system operator as director in 2021 where he managed some big issues including Operation London Bridge and leading the operational and timetabling challenges of almost a year of industrial action. 

He has also played a key part in supporting the preparations for Great British Railways. Kelly joined Network Rail from East Midlands Trains where he was managing director.

Lawrence Bowman, network strategy and reform director, will temporarily lead the system operator team until a longer-term successor to Kelly is appointed following an open recruitment process.

Inspired Villages has appointed Angie Harding as operations director. 

She is now leading the group’s operations function with a focus on strategy, operational efficiency and supporting service excellence across its eight villages as the company grows.

Harding comes from The ExtraCare Charitable Trust and brings with her a wealth of experience in the later living sector. 

Working with the trust for 16 years, she oversaw the business’ growth ambitions, scaling it from 5 to 21 retirement villages focusing on a healthy and active lifestyle. 

The appointment comes at an exciting time for Inspired Villages as it continues to deliver its plan, supported by Legal & General and NatWest Pension Funds’ £500m equity commitment, to create 34 communities with 5,100 purpose-built homes for up to 8,000 residents. 

Hardling joins Inspired’s executive committee representing the operations function to continue driving forward its future plans. 

With eight villages currently in operation, supporting more than 1,200 residents, the ninth village to open will be Millfield Green in Bedfordshire, this coming autumn. 

Inspired also recently acquired a new site in Edenbridge, Kent and has a number of other villages under construction or going through the planning process.