GHD appoints new chief executive and chairman |
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International professional services company GHD has appointed Ian Shepherd as its new Chief Executive. Des Whybird, who has been Chief Executive for the past five years, will become Chairman, with the company's current chairman Clive Weeks announcing his retirement after 36 years with GHD. The board has also appointed Peter Wood as Deputy Chairman. Mr Wood will continue his operational
role as General Manager China. Mr Shepherd is currently General Manager Australia and a director of GHD. He has worked for GHD for more than 22 years in the disciplines of civil and structural engineering, and in project management. He had responsibility for corporate strategy from 1999 to 2005, a time in which GHD more than doubled in size.
Mr Shepherd said: "GHD is well positioned for future challenges, with more than 6500 people and 100 offices in 15 countries. Our revenue is expected to exceed AUD1 billion this year and this clearly reflects the leadership from Clive and Des over the past five years. The stability of GHD provides confidence to our clients that they can access worldclass technology and services". GHD continued to record exceptional growth in 20072008, with a 39 per cent increase in revenue to AUD939 million. The group's balance sheet remained strong with net assets increasing by 43 per cent to AUD110.8 million. GHD is committed to managing the environmental impacts of its operations and the company again reduced its total electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions. Paper use fell by about 20 per cent per person against a target of 5 per cent. GHD is moving towards becoming carbon neutral by 2010. Mr Whybird said: "After five years as CEO of a dynamic organisation, I am pleased to see my colleague Ian Shepherd take on the role. I am certain he will lead GHD with distinction. I wish to acknowledge Clive's great contribution to GHD as Chairman during my term as CEO, as well as the support and leadership he provided to me."
Mr Weeks said GHD's journey of growth during his six years as CEO and Chairman had placed it firmly at the forefront. "GHD's outstanding growth, with revenue increasing from AUD190 million in 2002 to AUD939 million in 2008 has been achieved by strong adherence to GHD's enduring values - teamwork, respect and integrity, and the dynamic contribution from the whole team," he said. "I congratulate Des Whybird and Ian Shepherd on their appointments. I know I leave GHD in very capable hands. "Our people policies together with our innovation and sustainability initiatives enable us to better meet
the needs of our clients and the global communities in which we operate and I am confident GHD will go from success to success. "I'd like to thank our clients for their continued support. Thank you also to my fellow directors and GHD staff for helping to make GHD a truly enduring force in its 80th year." Mr Shepherd will continue to be based in Perth, reflecting GHD's longstanding practice of having its senior executives spread throughout its global operations. Mr Whybird is based in Brisbane, and the company has directors located in China, New Zealand and Australia.
GHD is an international professional services company. Our people deliver innovative solutions by combining technical skill and experience with an understanding of our clients' objectives and aspirations. GHD employs over 6,500 people in a network of offices throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.
Ian Shepherd - Chief Executive Officer, GHD
Ian has been an executive director of GHD since 1999 and General Manager Australia for the past five years. He had responsibility for corporate strategy from 1999 to 2005, and played a critical role in developing the blueprint for GHD's astounding growth. Under Ian's direction, the Australian operations have grown from 1900 employees in about 20 offices to more than 4000 employees in over 40 offices. Globally, GHD has grown to employ more than 6500 people in a network of 100 offices in 14 countries. Ian has more than 30 years' experience in engineering and project management. He graduated from the Western Australian Institute of Technology in 1978 and worked as a consulting engineer in Australia and Canada before joining GHD in 1985 as manager responsible for structural and general infrastructure in Western Australia. Ian was the manager of GHD's Western Australia operating centre from 2000 to 2003. During his 23year career with GHD, he has been involved in many projects across the private and public sectors. Ian was responsible for coordinating GHD's positioning and subsequent commissions for the AUD300 million Perth to Mandurah rail project and he has been involved in dozens of major infrastructure developments in the state. He was the project manager for the Stage 2D expansion of Perth navy base HMAS Stirling and the project director for the Fremantle Maritime Museum. Ian has also been involved in projects that have assisted the growth of Western Australia's minerals industry, including mine projects for Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Wesfarmers. As General Manager Australia from 2003, Ian has been responsible for GHD's involvement in many notable projects including planning for desalination plants in New South Wales and Victoria, the Lower MurrayDarling Catchment Management Authority's Wetland Rehabilitation Project, the Western Corridor Recycled Water project in Queensland and the new PerthBunburyHighway.
Ian also served as General Manager Middle East from 2005 to 2008, during which time the company extended its involvement in such notable projects as The Palm Islands and The World Islands. New projects in this time included providing services for the world's tallest building, Burj Dubai, Al Ain University and the prestigious Al Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi. Ian is chairman of GHD's sustainability advisory group, which is guiding the implementation of the company's sustainability strategy. The role of the group is to identify global and local sustainability issues and how they need to be addressed by GHD, and to review and report on GHD's internal sustainability performance - including its target of achieving carbon neutral operations by 2010. In addition to engineering qualifications, Ian has completed a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Australian Institute of Project Managers. He has also been on the Western Australian executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia. Ian is married to Olga and they have three adult children. He has been an active sportsperson, who continues to play competitive hockey and enjoys tennis, along with the challenge of golf. Ian is also a Director of the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Foundation in Western Australia.
Des Whybird - Chairman, GHD
Des has served as Chief Executive Officer of GHD since 2003, a period in which GHD has nearly trebled in size. He has been responsible for implementing the strategy that has driven the company's organic growth, as well as its expansion through strategic acquisitions in key global locations. During the past five years GHD has expanded to more than 6500 staff and now has annualised turnover exceeding AUD1 billion. With a degree in civil engineering from the University of Queensland, Des joined GHD as a graduate in 1973. He enjoyed a wide range of project responsibilities during his early career with the company in Queensland, including the Cairns Airport Redevelopment, various water and wastewater projects, the Mirage Port Douglas Resort and a range of infrastructure and urban development projects. Des has built his career in Brisbane, serving as the manager of GHD's South Queensland operations for eight years from 1994 to 2002. Major developments during that time included the establishment of an oil and gas group, the opening of new offices in Gladstone and the Sunshine Coast and the growth of the South Queensland operations from 90 staff to more than 450.
He was appointed a director of GHD in 1999 and given responsibility for technical services, during which time he oversaw the strengthening of technical service lines within GHD. He was also responsible for various system improvements and for streamlining the growing company's procedures as director responsible for Corporate Quality Systems.
Des served as General Manager Australia from November 2002 to November 2003, before being appointed CEO. As CEO for the past five years, he has placed particular emphasis on building the GHD
Business School and GHD's Innovations program. He has also overseen the development of the sustainability policy and GHD Safe. During Des's time as CEO, GHD has been involved in a range of high profile projects globally. The company has been engaged to assist the London Underground manage its assets using GHD's highly regarded risk management framework, and has been invited by the Environment Protection Authority in the United States to conduct infrastructure asset management training seminars. The company has been involved in the construction of the world's tallest building in the Middle East, Burj Dubai, as well as the world class Western Corridor Recycled Water Project in southeast Queensland. Des has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and has completed a professional services course at the Harvard Business School. His personal interests include golf, short fun runs, reading and cryptic crosswords. Des is married to Sharon and enjoys the company of their adult son and two daughters.
- Ends -
For more information , please contact:
GHD
Al Masood Tower, Deira, Dubai, UAE
T 971 4 294 9858
M 971 50 324 6336
F 971 4 294 9740
Email: Julieann.Balba@ghd.com.au
Website: http://www.ghd.com.au
© Press Release 2008
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