HFD Construction, the construction and delivery arm of HFD, has announced the appointment of Martin Smith as its new Managing Director, effective immediately.

Smith joins HFD Construction at what the company describes as a "transformational time", as it delivers HFD Group's pipeline of next-generation developments across central Scotland, with several billion pounds of construction projects planned over the coming years.

Bringing more than three decades of leadership experience in the construction industry, Martin Smith has built an extensive career spanning the UK and Europe, with expertise in hyperscale data centres, large-scale infrastructure, and complex commercial projects.

Most recently, he served as Group Chief Executive Officer, following senior leadership roles with ISG plc, Interserve, Robertson Group, and Miller Construction. His career includes the management of major projects valued at more than £650 million.

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At ISG, he led the delivery of several large-scale data centre projects for global technology firms, including Google’s €450 million, 60MW facility in Belgium. His portfolio also features complex developments such as Amazon logistics hubs, film studios, and semiconductor facilities across the UK and Europe.

Smith's experience covers a broad range of sectors, including education, healthcare, hospitality, and sustainable office developments, with a consistent focus on innovation, operational excellence and collaboration.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and an LLM in Construction Law from the University of Strathclyde and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. Throughout his career, Smith has been recognised for his commitment to safety, sustainability, and high-quality project delivery.

Under Martin Smith's leadership, HFD Construction will manage the build-out of a diverse and ambitious portfolio of projects, including:

• The construction of hundreds of megawatts of cutting-edge AI-ready data centres for DataVita, HFD's data centre division

• The development of private wire microgrids integrating renewable energy generation and storage for sustainable power delivery

• The creation of industry-leading city-centre office developments, including premium flexible workspace for Ospa – HFD’s serviced office division

• The development of current and proposed upper scale hotels across the region.

William Hill, CEO of HFD Group, commented: "Martin joins at an exciting time for the business, with billions of pounds worth of construction scheduled across central Scotland in the coming years. His leadership will be crucial as we deliver on these ambitious projects."