Barhale is delighted to announce the appointment of James Haddon as its new Director of Low Carbon Solutions—a key board-level position that underlines the company’s commitment to decarbonisation and innovative energy recovery solutions.

James’ journey with Barhale began in 1988 when he joined as a site engineer. Over the years, he advanced through roles in commercial management, project leadership and regional management. In 2006, he joined AECOM, where he worked across European operations for nine years, before returning to Barhale in 2015 to lead the Eastern Region, succeeding Chris Smith upon his retirement.

Building a Strong and Diverse Team

During his tenure as Regional Director, James oversaw significant growth and diversification. The team strengthened its core infrastructure delivery capabilities while expanding into new areas, such as non-infrastructure projects and design services.

He also regards the introduction and evolution of the IOS framework as a major achievement. Over the past decade, Barhale has helped shape IOS into a technically diverse and highly skilled team, complementing the work of the @one Alliance and ensuring readiness for AMP8.

James is quick to recognise the people who made this possible: “We had a great team spirit. There was always humour, but when it mattered, everyone was focused. That culture gave us the ability to adapt, step out of our comfort zones and grow.”

Transition to a New Role

After almost a decade in the Eastern Region, James has chosen to embrace a new challenge by leading Barhale’s low-carbon strategy. The move aligns with his long-standing interest in sustainability and comes at a time when the business sees major opportunities in energy recovery solutions.

 “The development of low-carbon solutions in the UK is an exciting and potentially lucrative venture,” he explained. “I’ve wanted to do more to support the transition to net zero for some time—this was the right moment to step into that space.”

For Chief Executive Martin Brown, the appointments exemplify how Barhale is focused on reducing our carbon footprint and on developing innovative low carbon solutions for clients: “Accelerating our carbon solutions offering is a key element of our growth strategy and James’s expertise and wealth of experience provide an ideal combination to lead the drive.”

Continuity and Leadership

As James transitions into his new role, leadership of the Eastern Region passes to Joe Solomon, who has been preparing for this position for some time. James is confident that the region will continue to thrive: “Joe’s ready. He understands the balance between being a good leader, setting up the right structure and delegating effectively. The team is in great hands.”

Looking Ahead

James is clear about his priorities. In the short term, his focus will be on delivering successful pathfinder projects that prove the concept for future growth. Longer term, he wants Barhale to be a recognised leader in energy recovery solutions.

“I believe in tangible ways to decarbonise building heating and reduce fossil fuel dependency,” he said. “The technology is exciting, and Barhale is well-positioned to make a real impact. Our approach needs to be proactive, we should create the market rather than just respond to it.”

Beyond the Business

Outside of his core responsibilities, James remains committed to supporting the next generation of engineers. He serves as a STEM Ambassador for Anglian Water’s Alliances at City College and sits on the board of the Business Community in Norwich, which works to promote social and economic prosperity in the region.

When he steps away from work, James enjoys sailing, sports cars and time with family and friends, describing himself with a smile as “generous, sociable and probably a bit bossy.”

With his wealth of experience, passion for sustainability and proven leadership, James is perfectly placed to guide Barhale into this exciting new chapter of low-carbon innovation.