Jacqueline Hinman to head CH2M

The US engineering giant behind the construction of the London 2012 Olympics has named Jacqueline Hinman as chief executive, making her one of the most powerful women in the industry.

CH2M Hill, which is based in Denver, has confirmed long-standing rumours that Ms Hinman would take over from Lee McIntire, who steps down at the end of the year. Ms Hinman previously ran the UK's Halcrow for CH2M Hill.

The group paid £124m for Halcrow in 2011, a price that Hinman was forced to defend earlier this year when it emerged that the 144-year-old London engineer was £71m in the red at the time of the deal.

She argued that this was merely the "final snapshot of this period in its history", pointing to Halcrow's "excellent technical reputation".

CH2M Hill is also working on the London "super sewer" and the HS2 railway project.