Eric Wilkinson succeeds Alan Richardson as Cambridge Consultants CEO

18 September 2017 Consultancy.uk

Product development and technology consultancy Cambridge Consultants has confirmed the retirement of Chief Executive Alan Richardson, who steps down following 33 years with the company. The outgoing CEO will be replaced by Eric Wilkinson as of October 1st.

Current CEO Alan Richardson is retiring after 33 years with Cambridge Consultants, while fellow stalwart Eric Wilkinson has been appointed CEO, effective from October 1st. Richardson will support a smooth transition as Executive Chairman before his subsequent departure at the end of the year.

Since taking the reins in 2012, the business has grown exponentially under Richardson’s leadership. The firm’s revenues have increased by a factor of three, while the company’s staff count has shot up from 300 to 750, as the Cambridge Consultants have expanded operations to span sixteen time zones. The company also accepted its third Queen’s Award recently, for the growth in its international sales. At the heart of this performance, staff have been regularly engaged in the growth mission, which has also led to Cambridge Consultants being named a Sunday Times Top 100 Company to work for, for the last four years.

Alan Richardson & Eric Wilkinson, outgoing and incoming CEOs of Cambridge Consultants

The company has continued to harness breakthrough technologies including robotics, advanced sensors, machine learning, digital health and wireless connectivity to provide market leading innovative products for its clients, bringing innovation to projects ranging from radio communications to sports science. Strong growth has also been achieved in consumer, medical, telecommunications, security and industrial markets, while the company has an internationally renowned product design capability, which has picked up two recent Red Dot Awards.

Now, as Richardson prepares to move on, having presided over a successful tenure as CEO, Cambridge Consultants’ leadership will undoubtedly hope the appointment of Eric Wilkinson will provide the continuity needed to maintain the momentum and growth that have been achieved in the last five years. The Chief Operations Officer since 2011, Wilkinson has been with Cambridge Consultants for 26 years, while he has already become a leading player in the development and implementation of the strategy at the firm as a Board Member. He has also played a leading role in developing the company’s world-leading facilities, including the redevelopment and extension of its state of the art laboratories in Cambridge.

Commenting on his retirement, Alan Richardson said, “Having worked closely with Eric for many years, I retire safe in the knowledge that the firm is in a strong position and set for further success. Eric’s broad and deep experience in our business, combined with our strong management team, will enable him to drive the business to even greater heights.”

“Alan Richardson has played a pivotal role in all of these successes and I’m grateful for everything he has done to hand over such a strong and growing business”, said incoming CEO, Eric Wilkinson. “I can restate our commitment to employing ambitious, entrepreneurial technologists and designers in leading technology hubs, such as Cambridge, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Singapore and Tokyo. Today we’re actively recruiting for more than 100 roles. These teams will be our bedrock as we continue to deliver breakthrough innovation and world firsts for the benefit of our clients worldwide.”