Lawrence Jackson, Managing Director HOCHTIEF UK and globetrotter
Lawrence Jackson has been with HOCHTIEF for a full three decades. In 1993, the native South African worked on his first project, a tunnel in Hong Kong. At the time, he worked as a freelancer, but he found true (travel) freedom in 1997 when he joined HOCHTIEF as a permanent employee. "I was looking for opportunities within an international organization."
A career around the world And he uses the opportunities extensively. From the Crown Colony, he goes to Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa, among other places. A high-speed rail line awaits in Taiwan, and the construction of a hydropower plant in Iceland - "one of my most exciting projects. A technical and logistical challenge, and in a fantastic location to boot." Stops in Asia and Europe followed, then the UK, since late 2017 as head of HOCHTIEF UK.
The skipper sets the course Entrepreneurial spirit was and is required, along with discipline and the willingness to recognize and live one's role. Each and every one is an individual-and at the same time part of the Group: "How can we become better, how can we optimize performance, how can we develop further? - As a person, as a team, as HOCHTIEF? Whatever you do, whatever you decide, whatever you say: you always represent your company."
Whatever you do, whatever you decide, whatever you say: you always represent your company."
"The skipper sets the course, but always puts himself at the service of the boat," is how the passionate sailor compares his role at HOCHTIEF. He regularly sails regattas in various boat classes off England's south coast, and he recognizes many parallels to his job. The entire team has to function like a sailing crew: "To be successful, you have to know what you have, know your boat, and make sure that every member of the crew knows how to do his or her job efficiently. Everyone has their specific skills and position on the boat. When everyone knows their tasks and everything runs smoothly, it's possible to win races and achieve lofty goals."
One of many international jobs: the hydroelectric power station Kárahnjúkar in Iceland
As HOCHTIEF's skipper in the UK, Lawrence Jackson is learning a lot about the "British way" of project management with a strong focus on social commitment and the environment, in turn conveying the corporate spirit of the global Group.
He is helping to integrate local activities more closely into the HOCHTIEF organization and to transform a specialist in rail and metro projects into a diversified player that makes even greater use of and enriches the global competencies and capacities within the Group. HOCHTIEF UK draws on the expertise and experience within the entire Group, particularly in tunneling, roads and bridge projects.
