Sector profile: Mike Hickson, Managing Director of Defence

Sir Robert McAlpine has a proud history of working in the Defence sector.

Recently, we commemorated D-Day’s 80th anniversary and the instrumental role that the company played in both the conception and construction of the Mulberry Harbours, two artificial port facilities designed to supply and support the allied forces following the landings in Normandy.  

In his role, Mike is keen to explore the opportunities that exist in Defence, leveraging our culture and our legacy of delivering technical excellence.  

Journey into construction 

Mike entered his working life as an insurance broker, but he soon realised that sitting behind an office desk was not for him. This prompted him to move abroad in search of adventure and fulfilment. After spending some time working in New Zealand, he embarked on an international motorcycle journey from Australia to the UK, travelling through a myriad of countries and across oceans. 

“But that wasn’t quite the end for me – I soon took off to America and rode my motorcycle across 36 States, before making my way to South America and Canada. That was my ‘university’ experience!”  

With his thirst for international travel not quite quenched, Mike then decided to join the British Army, in which he spent the following 30 years. It was here that Mike’s role as a logistician first began; he commanded in every rank from 2nd Lieutenant to Brigadier, was the lead logistician for UK operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, was Commander Logistics for the invasion of Iraq in 2004, and he finished his career as Director of the Royal Logistic Corps. 

Upon leaving the Armed Forces, Mike initially worked for Fluor as the Logistics Director for the expansion of an oilfield in Kazakhstan, before joining HS2 Limited, initially as the Logistics Director, and then as the Programme Director for the Central section Main Works Civils contracts.  For the last 3 years Mike was the Land and Property Director for all Phases of the HS2 Project.  It was as the HS2 Programme Director for the Align JV that Mike first got to know Sir Robert McAlpine. 

“I was initially a client of McAlpine’s – working with Tony Gates, Executive Managing Director of Infrastructure. What I saw within the business was not only a real commitment to technical excellence, but also values and ways of working that really resonated with me.” 

Soon after, when Mike found himself in search of a new career challenge, SRM immediately sprang to mind. 

3 months in: a reflection on the role 

Now coming up to the first 100 days of tenure, Mike shares that it has been an exciting opportunity to lead the business’s Defence sector and build upon its rich and varied heritage. He mentions previous projects like the transformation of Colchester Garrison and the building of the  US Embassy in Nine Elms, London.  

Mike is keen to blaze a trail for Sir Robert McAlpine within Defence, identifying opportunities and targeting areas where the business can flourish.