One time US Navy submarine designer Tom Bishop has been appointed as the new executive chairman for URS international operations which are headquartered in London. Mr Bishop takes over from outgoing senior vice president of international business Hugh Blackwood who retires at the end of the year. 

Mr Bishop has been based in London since 2010 managing the integration of all URS international work following the company’s acquisition of Scott Wilson that year.

He joined the business in 1986 and has overseen many complex infrastructure projects including high speed rail in Germany, transport schemes in the UK and aviation projects in Hong Kong and Portugal.

In another new appointment, John Horgan, a member of the URS international operations board has been promoted to managing director of the international business. Mr Horgan had been joint senior partner of consulting engineer Cameron Taylor which was acquired by Scott Wilson prior to the URS buyout in 2006.

Jerome Munro-Lafon, managing director of the company’s UK and Ireland operations, will continue in his executive role, working closely with Mr Bishop and Mr Horgan to drive international growth in key markets.

URS in the UK is currently recruiting over 100 transport engineers as the business starts to grow following the recession. Turnover in the UK is currently $400M and there are 3,500 staff with transport one of four business sectors.

The UK company is responsible for 60% of the overall group’s international operations