Ivor joined Hyder Consulting in December 2008 from WS Atkins where he was an Executive Board Director for the previous five years and Group Managing Director of its largest division. In these roles he oversaw an improvement of business performance through a programme of restructuring, refocusing and significant growth of business operations generating improved margins and increased turnover and profit. Ivor has significant international consultancy experience across Asia, Australasia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the USA. Prior to joining Atkins in 2000, he held roles at Scottish Power plc and Babtie Group. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of The Smeatonian Society, a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Ivor Catto
Chief Executive

Russell Down joined Hyder Consulting in 1997 and was appointed Finance Director in December 2008. Russell joined Hyder as Finance Director for the Middle East region, based in Dubai, and since then has held the roles of Group Financial Controller and Group Head of Finance and Development. In this latter role he was involved in the Group’s reverse takeover of Firth Holdings in 2002 and subsequent share placings. In addition he has played a key part in Hyder’s acquisition strategy and has built strong relationships with the Group’s bankers worldwide. Russell has significant international experience and has managed remote teams and inter-regional interfaces across the Middle East, North Africa, the USA, East Asia and Australia. He is Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales having qualified with KPMG.

Russell Down
Finance Director

Misti began her career as a barrister and solicitor in her native New Zealand. Before joining the company in 2007, she worked in management consultancy. Prior to that she was Director of Corporate Development for Baulderstone Hornibrook in Australia having previously held senior HR, training and communications positions with companies including Westpac Banking Corporation and Citigroup.

Misti Melville
Group Human Resources and Communications Director

John Priestland joined Hyder Consulting on 1 October 2009. He has led acquisitions and major bids in the Netherlands, the United States, the UK and Denmark and has recently been advising the UK Government on the programme for new nuclear build. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and is Chairman of the IOP’s Nuclear Industry Group. Prior to joining Hyder, he worked for the construction company, Amey, and the major engineering consultancy, Atkins. He also spent nine years working for the UK Government, largely on energy policy. John has an MBA from London Business School.

John Priestland
Group Commercial and Major Bids Director