Wintersgill will take up his new job as managing director of Severfield UK, at the start of next month.

He will be responsible for the Lostock and Dalton works and is the third senior Kier to join Severfield.

Former Kier chief executive, John Dodds joined Severfield after retiring as non-ex chairman in 2011.

His role switched to executive chairman at the start of 2013 after chief executive Tom Haughey left in the wake of serious problems emerging on the Cheesegrater tower.

A year ago Kier’s Services and Property division boss Ian Lawson joined as Severfield chief executive officer filling the the post vacated by Haughey.

Wintersgill has been with Kier for nearly 10 years, the last three as managing director of Kier northern operations.