People


Part of my DNA


Paul Finch describes how engineering and construction are embedded in his genes


Paul Finch was first introduced to the world of construction by his father, a builder who let Finch ‘loose’ on building sites during the school holidays. By the time he left school he


already had a good appreciation of what was involved in construction generally and how buildings physically went together. This experience led him to become a trainee draftsman. ‘I guess engineering and construction were embedded somewhere deep in my DNA,’ says Finch. Since then he has worked his


way up the engineering ladder, becoming director within the building consultancy department of CB Richard Ellis, before joining the Digital Realty Trust as mechanical design and engineering director. In this role at the trust – a


wholesale data centre provider – Finch is responsible for the design and construction of data centres. The 37-year-old explains: ‘My role is technically focused but draws on my management experience. I have the opportunity to influence all pre-construction activities, from strategic planning, procurement, design and specification, through to testing, commissioning and handover of the data centre to the technical operations team, providing post-handover support where necessary.’ A typical week for Finch is hardly


nine to five, his time being split 50/50 between his office in London and working on site. And when he’s not officially at work, he’s still on the job responding to emails: ‘We have to be flexible, particularly as some of my colleagues are working in different time zones. ‘At this moment it is 7:45pm on


Sunday and I am travelling to our Paris data centre, where I have a meeting to chair tomorrow. Next week I’m off to Dallas, Texas.’ Finch also spends a lot of time setting the firm’s mechanical


66 CIBSE Journal July 2010 Movers & Shakers


AECOM’s operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Resource Sciences Arabia)


has appointed a new senior director, Alan Morris, to oversee building engineering. Morris has more than 30 years’ experience in the building and infrastructure sectors.


Gordon Masterton OBE has been appointed chairman of the Construction Industry Council.


Masterton, the CIC’s 11th chairman, is vice president of environment at the Jacobs Group, a technical, professional and construction services provider.


If you aim for the


sky, you might reach the tree tops


engineering strategy, aims and objectives, and passing the technical brief on to the professional team. This can see him deal with a vast spectrum of professionals, from mechanical and electrical engineers to solicitors. Developing a data centre can


take up to 156 weeks to complete, but because of the trust’s business model, Finch can offer a data centre to clients in 26 weeks. Finch has achieved big things


in his 22-year career, but it took hard work and determination, particularly during his days as a trainee engineer at a US consultancy firm, where he worked a number of significant projects. ‘During this period of my career, it was very much a sink or swim attitude, but if you did manage to keep your head above water, it put you in good stead for the future.’ Finch puts his success down


to an old proverb: ‘I have always aspired to be the best at everything I do. An appropriate proverb I became familiar with a long time ago was: “If you aim for the sky, you might reach the tree tops”.’


Email people appointments/ role profiles to cbailey@cibsejournal.com


Paul Felix, a leading figure in the UK lighting industry, has been recruited by Ex-Or to further its


position in lighting management and control in the London market. Felix has taken up the role of project engineer (sales) and will join the southern sales team.


Design,


engineering and project


management consultancy, Morgan


Professional Services, has appointed David Rycroft as director of business development. Rycroft moves to the position from his role as director of architectural services for MPS.


Independent metering specialist MWA Technology’s business


development


director, Ian Dawson, has been elected chairman of the eastern section of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM). Dawson, who joined IGEM in 1989, received the chain of office from previous chairman, Gavin Habershon, at the IGEM Eastern AGM in May.


Rowan Streete, 25, and 26-year-old Dwayne Carbon, who grew up together on the Rayners Lane


Estate in South Harrow, have been taken on as apprentices at Kier Harrow’s £42m new-build project developing Whitmore High School.


Building services provider NG Bailey has appointed David Hurcomb as its chief executive.


Hurcomb, who is currently interim chief executive for Scotland-based Havelock Europa, will join NG Bailey in September.


Andrew Watts has been appointed as contracts manager for the north west region of facilities


management specialist, Powerminster Gleeson Services. Watts, who has 10 years’ experience in contracts and facilities management, previously worked for one of the UK’s largest construction contractors as regional facilities manager.


The Scottish Construction Centre (SCC) has appointed a new leader. Professor Malcolm Horner


stepped down as director and David Kelly has taken on the newly created role of senior manager. Kelly’s role will include leading the SCC through the remainder of the current contract and developing a new model for the SCC beyond March 2011.


Diane Johnson, finance director with Eric Johnson of Northwich, has officially become the first female to take up the mantle of president of the ECA (Electrical Contractors Association) in the organisation’s 109-year history. Johnson was inaugurated at the ECA’s annual conference, held in Tenerife earlier this year. Her priorities over the next 12 months are to continue to champion skills and to raise awareness of the ECA.


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