Aecom aims to grow defence work in Europe, India and UK with new appointment

Aecom has appointed Ed Robinson as head of defence for the UK, Europe and India as it looks to expand its work in the sector.

Robinson, a former Royal Engineer officer in the British Army, brings more than 30 years’ experience to the role, including nine years at Turner & Townsend where he was global defence sector lead.

At Aecom, he will focus on building relationships with clients such as the UK Ministry of Defence, the US Department of Defense in Europe, and defence suppliers, while also contributing to the firm’s global defence leadership team.

The appointment comes as governments, including the UK, increase spending on defence and security. The UK’s Strategic Defence Review, published in June, set out plans to invest in infrastructure across the defence estate, including training hubs and service family accommodation.

Aecom already works with both the UK and US defence departments, with projects including the Catterick Integrated Care Campus and long-term masterplanning and engineering support for US forces in Europe.

Richard Whitehead, Aecom’s chief executive for Europe and India, said Robinson’s leadership would be “instrumental” in delivering programmes that support modernisation and strengthen national security.