Ferrovial, which controls UK airports operator BAA, on Thursday named a successor to chief executive Joaquín Ayuso, in a surprise move reflecting tension at the debt-laden infrastructure group.

The family-controlled company said Iñigo Meirás, head of the airports division and vice-president of BAA, would formally replace Mr Ayuso “in the near future”. It will be the latest in a series of high-level changes at the Spanish infrastructure group and BAA.