Keith Cochrane (image: parliamentlive.tv)
Keith Cochrane, who was interim chief executive of Carillion when it collapsed into liquidation, has found a new role at a Scottish engineering firm.
Cochrane took over a temporary role at the helm of Carillion in July 2017 following the departure of Richard Howson, having been appointed to the board in July 2015.
He has now taken on a role as non-executive chairman of Score Group, based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, which started this month.
Score Group primarily provides services related to valves and industrial gas turbines, in addition to training, specialist coatings and cell disruptors.
Cochrane has also been serving as non-executive chairman of German firm Schenck Process since January this year. Prior to joining Carillion, he was chief executive of engineering firm the Weir Group for seven years.
He had been due to be replaced a week after Carillion collapsed by former Wates boss Andrew Davies, who had been chosen as the company’s new permanent chief executive.
Cochrane was one of the Carillion directors to later face questions from MPs as part of the Carillion joint inquiry.
During his time in the top job at Carillion, Cochrane and his team requested a rescue deal from the government, asking for £160m in cash. Cochrane told the inquiry that he didn’t consider this a bailout.
“We believed a longer-term solution was possible. That solution would have been the best possible outcome for [the] pension fund, customers, suppliers and employees,” he said.
He also admitted to MPs during the inquiry that he and other directors could have done more to flag up growing problems at the firm.
“Clearly with the benefit of hindsight, should the board have been asking further more probing questions? Perhaps,” he said.
