HFD Construction has tapped seasoned construction leader Martin Smith as its new managing director, marking a pivotal leadership change as the business accelerates its expansion plans across central Scotland.
The Glasgow-based company — part of the wider HFD Group — is entering a transformative phase, supported by a multibillion-pound development pipeline set to reshape the region’s digital and commercial infrastructure.
Smith brings more than 30 years of experience from major construction firms in the UK and Europe, including work on hyperscale data centre projects, major office developments, and complex public-sector infrastructure. His résumé includes senior roles at ISG, Interserve, Robertson Group and Miller Construction, and most recently, group CEO of Muir Group.
His professional background spans the education, healthcare, hospitality and sustainability sectors, complementing HFD Group’s strategy to grow both technologically advanced and environmentally focused developments. Smith also 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.
Under his leadership, HFD Construction will oversee delivery of a large and diverse portfolio — including:
These projects position HFD Group at the forefront of Scotland’s fast-evolving clean energy and digital infrastructure landscape — sectors experiencing unprecedented investment as companies modernize for the AI era.
William Hill, CEO of HFD Group, welcomed the appointment, saying:
“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.”
Smith said the opportunity aligns strongly with his career leading large-scale and mission-critical development programs:
“Joining HFD Construction at this pivotal moment is an exciting challenge. My career has been focused on leading complex, large-scale developments, including critical hyperscale data centre infrastructure across Europe. I look forward to leveraging that 30 years of experience, alongside the talented HFD Construction team, to successfully deliver the Group’s ambitious pipeline of next-generation projects, including vital AI and renewable energy sectors and market leading office and commercial developments.”
With global AI demand surging and regional sustainability goals tightening, Smith steps into the role as HFD Construction positions itself as a central driver of Scotland’s economic transformation — building infrastructure that supports new jobs, greener power systems, and the digital industries of the future.
Originally reported by HFD Construction in Project Scotland.
