Greenhouse and energy specialist CambridgeHOK has appointed experienced chartered engineer Dr Ian MacKenzie to head up its expanding engineering and design division.
Having worked in design and engineering for numerous manufacturing businesses for more than 20 years, MacKenzie joins at a time when theEast Yorkshire-based energy and construction companyis investing heavily in expanding its in-house design expertise.
He will oversee work on structural engineering for the firm’s large-scale development projects, including new commercial glasshouses and vertical farms.
At CambridgeHOK MacKenzie will oversee the planning forheating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and CO2 systems to ensure facilities perform at the optimum levels of productivity and efficiency for clients.
“I’m excited to be joining CambridgeHOK as I have been highly impressed with the quality of projects the business is involved in and is leading on at present. In particular, I’m impressed with how it has been pushing the boundaries and innovating in the food and fruit growing sector,” he said.
“It really has been leading the way in terms of developing highly efficient and productive growing facilities and it is exciting to be joining a company where I feel I can use my experience to add value to the design and engineering process, bringing benefits not only to its customers, but also importantly the business itself.
“My role will see me working to ensure we continually develop our design and engineering expertise through innovation.”
Dr MacKenzie has worked in organisations supplying a diverse range of industries throughout his career including telecommunications, oil and gas, power distribution, rail and construction.
John Holland, managing director of CambridgeHOK, said that experience will help bring fresh ideas to the company.
“We’re delighted to have been able to recruit someone of Ian’s ability, experience and reputation for engineering excellence across the manufacturing sector,” he said.
“World-class engineering and design is at the heart of all we do and it is always the first stage of any successful development.
“It is our continued investment into this area of our work which has helped us develop leading knowledge, expertise and systems within our industry and Ian’s appointment, along with the recruitment of a further two new members of the team, is all about enhancing that further.
“We have had an excellent year with some really significant contracts in 2020. We will look to build on that in the coming 12 months.”
