Strengthening Capex Teams in a Changing Industrial Landscape

As industrial organisations respond to shifting geopolitical landscapes, the focus on internal capability building, particularly within capital expenditure (capex) teams, has intensified. The need to improve production infrastructure, manage aging assets, and modernise operations has prompted a renewed emphasis on assembling high-performing capex functions.

At Beaumont Bailey, we’ve recently partnered with several global industrial businesses to help evolve and scale their capex teams. Our work has focused on identifying critical leadership and specialist talent, often from adjacent sectors, to meet growing internal demand for capability around capital deployment and transformation.

Market Drivers Behind the Shift

Several macro trends have contributed to a surge in investment and capability development in capex functions:

1. Supply Chain Resilience and Reindustrialisation

   Ongoing geopolitical tensions have led many organisations to revisit their production strategies. A key outcome has been renewed investment in local manufacturing capability and supply chain resilience, with capex teams playing a central role in leading this shift.

2. Digital and Operational Transformation

   With rising investment in automation, smart factory technology, and data infrastructure, capex leaders are now expected to oversee modernisation initiatives that require both technical insight and strategic delivery capability.

3. Internal Capital Deployment

   As market valuations rise, strategy and M&A teams are increasingly looking inward for high-ROI investment opportunities. Capex teams are pivotal in identifying and delivering these internal projects, from plant upgrades to infrastructure expansion.

4. Aging Assets and Capacity Bottlenecks

   Many industrial businesses face legacy asset portfolios with significant capacity constraints. The need to revitalise or replace these assets has placed further pressure on capex teams to lead transformative capital projects.

Our Approach: Broadening the Talent Landscape

One of the consistent challenges our clients face is a limited talent pool within their own industry. Capex capability has been underinvested in across multiple sectors, and the rapid rise in demand has exposed gaps in internal succession and expertise.

To address this, Beaumont Bailey has taken a broad and creative approach to talent identification:

• Cross-Sector Talent Sourcing
  We’ve delivered successful appointments by looking at adjacent sectors with strong capex track records — including life sciences and oil and gas — where investment discipline and complex project execution are well established.
• EPC and Supply Chain Expertise
  Many of the most capable project delivery professionals sit within EPC contractors or capital equipment providers. These individuals not only bring hands-on execution experience but also deep knowledge of the subcontractor landscape and ecosystem.
• Global Talent Access
  International markets and select emerging regions continue to see high volumes of capital investment. These locations offer access to talent pools with deep exposure to large-scale project execution.

Key Learnings

• Adjacent sectors often hold untapped potential, especially where internal sector expertise is limited.
• The supply chain can be a source of highly capable project delivery professionals with the added benefit of ecosystem knowledge.
• Looking internationally can unlock a broader pool of experienced capex professionals, particularly in regions with recent investment surges.
• Integrating cross-sector talent can future-proof capex teams and build resilience into long-term investment strategies.

Looking Ahead

If building or strengthening your capex team is a current priority, we’d be pleased to share more about our recent work in this space. Our insights span industries, geographies, and project types — and we’re well-placed to help you develop a high-impact capital projects function.

Please get in touch to explore how we can support your ambitions.

To discover how Beaumont Bailey can support your next search for transformational leadership, please email James Pope, Managing Director – james.pope@beaumontbailey.com