Barhale is delighted to welcome Johannes Esterhuyse as Framework Director. With more than three decades of construction and infrastructure experience across two continents, Johannes now takes the lead in guiding Barhale’s Yorkshire Water team into AMP8.

From South Africa to the UK

Originally from Namibia, Johannes began his career in South Africa, working his way up to Contracts Director at a privately-owned construction company.
“I was fortunate to work for a well-established business where I built a strong grounding in civil engineering and project delivery,” he says.

In 2003, his love of travel and the lure of new professional challenges brought him to the UK. “I saw the UK as a great hub for travel, but also as an opportunity to expand my career,” he explains. Johannes joined May Gurney, a civil engineering company, before moving to AmcoGiffen in 2010 as Regional Manager.

A proven track record

At AmcoGiffen, Johannes managed a diverse and complex portfolio of frameworks, including the Environment Agency’s Asset Operational Management and Response (AOMR) Framework, the Canal & River Trust’s MEICA Framework and the National Highways Historic Railways Estate programme.

Why Barhale, why now?

For Johannes, the move to Barhale was about taking the next step. “I believe you have to push boundaries and step outside your comfort zone if you want to develop,” he says. “When our CEO, Martin Brown, approached me, I saw an opportunity to join a dynamic, privately-owned company with values that match my own.”

He was also impressed with the onboarding process. From his first contact with HR to having my IT and equipment ready on day one, everything was seamless. “The agility here really suits my management style. You can make decisions quickly without the bureaucracy you sometimes find in larger organisations.”

Johannes adds: “I’m genuinely excited to join Barhale at such a pivotal moment. Yorkshire Water is a strategic client for the business and I see huge opportunities to enhance our delivery model through better collaboration, learning and performance. My aim is to support the team, challenge where needed and ensure we consistently deliver value to our client.”

Immediate priorities

Johannes is clear about his first challenge:

“The key is getting boots on the ground quickly so we can keep our excellent team together. We have 54 multi-skilled operatives in our self-delivery team working on the Yorkshire Water framework and continuity is vital. Rebuilding relationships with the client will be a big focus. We need to ensure our objectives align so expectations are crystal clear.”

Johannes’s line manager, Mark Wood says: “Having a person of Johannes’ experience join the business is testament to where Barhale is heading as an industry leading contractor. Johannes brings a stable and calming influence to the Yorkshire Water framework team. His previous experience in managing frameworks will allow the team to grow and reach their full potential, ensuring we fulfil our potential with Yorkshire Water. I am really happy to have him on board and can’t wait to start fully on the AMP8 works.”

Long-term vision and a people first mindset

Looking ahead, Johannes is focused on delivering the business plan for the next five years.
“That means hitting our sales targets, delivering to budget and ensuring we can invest back into the company. I measure my success on achieving what we set out to do and on building a sustainable, repeat business.”

Johannes believes the foundation of success lies in the team.
“Our greatest strength is in our people. My approach is to empower, support and challenge the team to perform at their best. Professionalism, integrity and collaboration are essential and they fit perfectly with Barhale’s culture.”

Life beyond work

Away from work, Johannes is an adventurer. A keen long-distance motorcyclist, he once rode from the south of Spain to Norway in just 66 hours. He is married with four grown-up children and welcomed his first grandchild in January 2025.

As he takes on the new role, Johannes remains confident about the future:

“Yorkshire Water is a strategic client for Barhale. Through better collaboration, learning and performance, we can deliver real value and build long-term success together.”