GHD appoints new Directors in London and Manchester offices
Global professional services firm GHD has announced a duo of new Operations Directors in its London and Manchester offices. Cara Murphy is promoted to lead the firm’s team in the UK capital, while Kathleen Cunningham moves from being an Engineering Manager to lead the key North-Western locale.
GHD is one of the globe’s leading professional services companies, operating in the markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. The employee-owned group delivers engineering, environmental and construction services to public and private sector clients across five continents and the Pacific region. The firm’s global team stands at 9000 people, following a succession of mergers in 2015.
Cara Murphy has been named as Operations Director for GHD’s London office, as the firm prepares to grow its profile further in 2018. Having been with the firm since 2012, Murphy previously presided over GHD’s UK Transport Strategy and Planning offering, utilising more than a decade of experience providing technical and strategic advice to lead the team. She has previously worked with entities including the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Transport for London, as well as local authorities and private sector clients.
Commenting on her appointment, Murphy said, “I look forward to working with the team to drive growth and efficiency for our clients across all of the market sectors in which we operate.”
Craig Stockton, GHD’s UK Managing Director, remarked, “Cara is a dynamic member of the GHD team who has been instrumental in developing our rail operations capability and diversifying our transport project portfolio. Cara is passionate about delivering client service excellence, both within and outside of our business, and I look forward to seeing the continued expansion of our London office under her leadership.”
Kathleen Cunningham has meanwhile been appointed as Operations Director for GHD’s Manchester office. Cunningham has been with GHD since 2010, reaching the role of Engineering Manager latterly. With more than a decade of experience in engineering design and project management for water, energy and buildings clients at her disposal, Cunningham was most recently engaged as a Product Design Manager for a major water treatment works upgrade as part of the Birmingham Resilience Project for Severn Trent Water. Serving 1.3 million people in Birmingham, UK, this high-profile upgrade will improve resilience by harnessing an alternative water supply from the River Severn.
She assumes her new role as Operations Director from Stewart Tennant, who will continue in his role as Market Sector Leader – Water, UK – along with maintaining responsibility for coordination of technical services across GHD’s Europe and Middle East region.
Cunningham said of her appointment, “I am fortunate to work alongside such a talented team and look forward to facilitating the continued growth of GHD’s Manchester office in collaboration with our 9000 strong global network.”
Craig Stockton added, “Kathleen is an accomplished and skilled leader, practiced in delivering technical and client service excellence. In her new role, Kathleen will now build upon the technical excellence already within the Manchester office to drive forward the services we deliver for our clients.”
The role of an Operations Director is a varied one, with incumbents having a hand in virtually most aspects of a business. This includes the setting of financial budgets, the solution of HR problems, and other aspects needed to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of a company.
