In a prepared statement released to the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday, Leighton chief executive officer Hamish Tyrwhitt said van der Laan was “leaving to pursue other career opportunities” and announced Mike Rollo would fill the position.

The shuffle comes just nine months after van der Laan was appointed to the chief risk officer position when it was created in response to $900 million worth of earnings downgrades for the company related to its troubled Wonthaggi desalination plant and Brisbane Airport Link projects.

A civil engineer by trade, Rollo has more than 30 years experience in the construction industry including six years with Leighton.

Rollo has worked for a number of other contractors including AJ Lucas, Watpac, Costain, Citra Construction and Civil and Civic and more recently has worked as an independent advisor on major infrastructure projects.

In the chief risk officer position, Rollo will be responsible for the group’s entire risk management systems and controls and for the management of the group’s legal affairs.

Meanwhile, Leighton has appointed Michael Bushby as the executive general manager of Leighton Contractors’ services division.

Bushby will head the services division team encompassing infrastructure services, facility management and utility services, operating and maintaining infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand.

Bushby was formerly the CEO of the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority and he holds extensive experience working in the public sector.

As RTA CEO from 2009 to 2011, Bushby was responsible for the $5.3 billion Annual Roads program and 8000 RTA staff.

Bushby was also involved in shaping many policy initiatives including the national heavy vehicle reform and improving standards for safety, operations and asset management for the state’s road network.

This story first appeared in ILN's sister publication ConstructionIndustryNews.net.