Posted on May 24, 2023
Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD), the leading global Design and Consultancy organization for natural and built assets, has announced the expansion of its ELT, with the promotion of three Global Business Area (GBA) leaders to the ELT.
As of 1 June 2023, Mark Cowlard, Global President for Places; Heather Polinsky, Global President for Resilience; and Greg Steele, Global President for Mobility, will all join Arcadis’ ELT. The changes follow the recent appointment of Alan Brookes as Chief Executive Officer, and underline Arcadis’ ambition to bring its global leaders even closer to the business to help better serve client needs, step up cross GBA collaboration and drive greater cross-border efficiencies.
Mark Cowlard, formerly UK CEO, has led the Places business area since early 2022. Focused on creating smart and sustainable places for owners, investors, users, and communities, his team brings together future-facing global solutions across the entire asset life cycle. As the requirement for net-zero accelerates, a focus area is supporting clients reduce carbon. A further priority will be the growth of Arcadis’ recently enhanced architecture and urbanism offering, combining the best of sustainable and digital design to deliver places with lasting impact.
As the Global lead for Resilience, Heather Polinsky and her team provide holistic sustainable solutions for clients dealing with the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Before heading up the Resilience business, Heather was Arcadis’ Chief Operating Officer in North America and is well placed to build on Arcadis’ heritage and expertise in energy transition, water management and environmental remediation to help clients create a more resilient future.
Greg Steele leads the Mobility business, covering rail, highways, aviation, port infrastructure and new mobility solutions. He was previously the ELT member for the Asia and Pacific region. Having headed up Arcadis’ Mobility business for the last 16 months, Greg is focused on working closely with transport owners, operators, and contractors to deliver greener and cleaner design, asset and program management and new mobility solutions across the world.
Greg Steele, Mark Cowlard, Heather Polinsky and Edel Christie
Arcadis has also announced the appointment of Edel Christie as Chief Growth Officer, following the retirement of Mary Ann Hopkins, who will be stepping down in June after seven years with the business. Edel has been with Arcadis for 25 years, working with Arcadis’ biggest clients and most recently in the role of Chief Transformation Officer. Edel is currently responsible in the ELT for overseeing the successful transformation of the Arcadis business into a global operating model, including the recent acquisitions and integration of the former IBI Group, DPS Group, CRTKL, Arcadis Gen and Giftge Consulting. From June, Hans Dekker, Chief Delivery Officer who joined the ELT in January 2023, will look after the alignment of transformation with delivery.
The ELT members report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Alan Brookes, who said:
“Our global operating model is already making a big difference to our business and to our clients. Now more than a year on, it’s important that we continue building on these strong foundations to recognize and respond to the many challenges that our clients are increasingly facing in today’s world. Driving growth and creating even greater value in the sectors and amongst the communities in which we operate is essential, and having Mark, Heather and Greg at the table sets us up to be successful in a world where many of our clients’ most pressing issues and opportunities are global ones.
“I’m also pleased to have Edel working alongside me in her new role as Chief Growth Officer. Edel has years of experience working with some of our biggest clients and will be key in ensuring our Leadership team remains close to their needs and market dynamics. While we are sorry to see Mary Ann leave, I want to take this opportunity to thank her for the enormous contribution she has made to our business and to our clients and wish her all the very best in her retirement.”
The full Executive Leadership Team comprises:
- Chief Executive Officer, Alan Brookes
- Chief Financial Officer, Virginie Duperat
- Chief Growth Officer, Mary Ann Hopkins (retires June 2023)
- Chief Transformation Officer, Edel Christie (becomes Chief Growth Officer in June 2023)
- Chief Delivery Officer, Hans Dekker
- Chief People Officer, Jacoline van Blokland
- Global President (Resilience), Heather Polinsky
- Global President (Places), Mark Cowlard
- Global President (Mobility), Greg Steele
