Keller Group plc, the international geotechnical specialist contractor, has announced the appointment of Carl-Peter Forster as a non-executive director and chair designate.

Forster will succeed Peter Hill CBE who announced in July 2024 his intention to step down after approaching nine years as chair. Following a handover period, Forster will succeed Hill as chair on 5 March 2025. Forster will also join the nomination and governance committee in December, and become its chair when he assumes the role of chair of the board.

Forster currently chairs Vesuvius plc and Chemring Group PLC. He is the senior independent director and remuneration committee chair at Babcock International Group plc. He will step down from his role at Chemring at the end of this month.

Forster is also chair of StoreDot, a member of the Kinexon GmbH Advisory Board, and a member of the boards of The Mobility House AG, Gordon Murray Group Limited and Envisics Ltd.

Previously, he held non-executive director roles at IMI plc, Rexam PLC, Rolls-Royce plc and Cosworth Ltd, and served as chair of The London Electric Vehicle Company Ltd, and on the boards of Volvo Cars Corporation and Geely Automobile Holdings.

Baroness Kate Rock, Keller’s senior independent director, led the search process for the new chair. She said: “Following a thorough selection process to identify and select a new Chair, we are delighted to welcome Carl-Peter to the Board at an exciting point in Keller’s development. His experience across a range of international industrial companies, in a broad range of executive and non-executive roles, will be invaluable to Keller and the Group’s future strategic development.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Peter for his leadership and significant contribution to Keller. Peter has chaired Keller through a transformational period and will be leaving a strong legacy of performance delivery and value creation.”