Bevans takes the wheel at Macquarie Atlas Roads

MACQUARIE Atlas Roads has chosen global infrastructure executive Graeme Bevans to be the chief executive of the toll roads operator once it separates its management from the Macquarie Group.

Mr Bevans was formerly the chief executive in the UK of Annuity Infrastructure, head of core strategies at Alinda Capital Partners in the US, and head of infrastructure at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Macquarie Atlas will be renamed Atlas Arteria once it is spun off from Macquarie Group.

Mr Bevans will replace current chief executive James Hooke, who has opted to stay with Macquarie Group, in May. Mr Bevans’ appointment is subject to a vote at the company’s annual general meeting on May 15.

Mr Hooke, who only succeeded Peter Trent as Macquarie Atlas chief executive in February, will continue to run Macquarie Atlas until Mr Bevan starts in May.

Macquarie Atlas Roads International chairman Jeffery Conyers said Mr Bevan would bring experience to the company, having invested in a broad range of infrastructure assets and having sat on the boards of varied assets.

“He has deep experience with some very complex joint venture arrangements both lo- cally in Australia and overseas, particularly in Europe and the Americas,” Mr Conyers said.

Under the proposed spinoff, Macquarie Group will remain manager for up to a year after Macquarie Atlas’ annual general meeting. Mr Bevans said he knew the assets of Macquarie Atlas well and would hit the ground running.