Leighton Holdings has appointed former ACS executive Angel Muriel to run its new public private partnerships (PPP) division as it announced existing management would be retained to lead other divisions.

Mr. Muriel was recently put in charge of Leighton's merger and acquisition activities. He will work closely with Spanish ACS to develop the company's PPP business and bid for infrastructure projects.

The firm also announced other management changes. Bruce Munro, the current managing director of Thiess, will lead Leighton's mining division, while Craig Laslett, the current managing director of Leighton Contractors, will lead its engineering division.

David Jurd, who previously ran Lend Lease's Abigroup construction business but left the company in 2012 after an investigation into accounting discrepancies, will run Leighton's construction division.

Leighton's CEO, Marcelino Fernandez Verdes, also announced that John Holland and Leighton Properties have both been earmarked for a possible sale. He said that existing management of both companies will be retained.

Macquarie Capital has been hired for the sale of John Holland, which has US$4.7 billion in annual revenues and could bring in US$1 billion, and Leighton's services businesses.

Leighton will retain the Thiess and Leighton Contractors brands.