Ian Shepherd to retire as CEO of GHD: Board names Ashley Wright as successor

PERTH – GHD, Australia’s – and one of the world’s – biggest private companies servicing the engineering, architecture and environmental consulting sectors, today announced that Ashley Wright will become Chief Executive from April 1. He will succeed Ian Shepherd, who is retiring after 30 years with the firm and almost eight years as CEO, during which time annual turnover  increased from AUD900 million to almost AUD1.6 billion.

GHD  in July 2014 announced a strategic merger with Canada-based Conestoga-Rovers and Associates (CRA), allowing I tto expand into markets in North and South America and the UK. The company has significant interests in Asia. Shepherd at the time described the deal with CRA one of the largest true mergers to have occurred in the global engineering and environmental industry. The merger was phased in over two years, and CRA now operates under the GHD banner.

GHD Chairman, Russell Board, says a long-term succession planning process had allowed the Board to focus on highly-experienced internal candidates for the position. “Ashley brings passion and energy to his leadership and is a highly strategic thinker,” he said.

Wright is currently General Manager for GHD in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. H he will be based out of Perth, where he has previously led the company’s Western Australia operations.

His career spans 27 years of professional experience across Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the UK. As an engineer, he worked on some of Australia’s landmark transport projects, including the Perth to Bunbury Highway and the Mandurah Railway in Western Australia, and the Westlink M7 motorway in Sydney.  www.ghd.com (ATI).