Egis Strengthens UK and Ireland Transport Leadership with Appointment of Industry Veteran

Egis has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of experienced transport professional Mike Birch as Transportation Director for the UK and Ireland.

The move forms part of the company's strategy to grow its presence across the transport sector and further enhance its capabilities in delivering major infrastructure and mobility programmes throughout the region.

Birch brings more than three decades of industry experience, having worked across both the public and private sectors on some of the UK's largest and most complex transport projects. He joins Egis from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, where he served as Mass Transit Director and led the development of a proposed £3 billion tram network designed to transform public transport across the region.

His career has also included senior leadership positions with major engineering and consultancy organisations, including Jacobs and Ramboll. During this time, he gained extensive experience across multiple transport disciplines, including highways, rail, aviation and maritime infrastructure.

In addition, Birch has held board-level roles within joint venture organisations delivering nationally significant projects such as HS2, Crossrail and several strategic road improvement programmes.

Supporting Future Growth

As Transportation Director, Birch will be responsible for driving the continued development of Egis' transport business across the UK and Ireland.

A key part of his role will involve bringing together expertise from across the organisation, strengthening collaboration with clients and industry partners, and positioning the business to respond effectively to changing market demands.

The company believes the appointment will help support growth opportunities across a range of sectors, including light rail, heavy rail, highways and active travel infrastructure.

The decision also reflects broader changes within the transport industry, where integrated delivery models and collaborative partnerships are becoming increasingly important in the successful delivery of major projects.

Leadership Perspective

Francois Basselot, Managing Director of Egis in the UK and Ireland, described the appointment as an important step in the company's expansion plans.

He said Birch's combination of consultancy expertise and direct client-side experience provides valuable insight into the delivery of complex transport programmes and will help strengthen the organisation's ability to support customers across a rapidly evolving market.

Birch said his experience leading major transport initiatives from the client perspective had given him a clear understanding of the qualities organisations look for in consultancy partners.

He added that Egis possesses a strong mix of technical expertise and international experience, creating opportunities to deliver greater value for clients by bringing together the company's capabilities across the UK and Ireland in a more integrated way.

The appointment marks another step in Egis' efforts to expand its influence within the transport infrastructure sector as investment continues across rail, highways, public transport and sustainable mobility projects throughout the region.