Arcadis appoints new UK Chief Entrepreneur
Nilesh Parmar has been promoted to the role of Chief Entrepreneur in Arcadis’ UK business. The newly created role will see the Partner work to support clients with the development of “game-changing solutions and valuable new experiences.”
International professional services firm Arcadis specialises in design and consultancy services. The company applies deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services to partner with clients, delivering sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. The firm’s 27,000 people are active in over 70 countries, generating annual revenues of €3.2 billion.
Globally, Arcadis reported a multi-million pound loss in its annual results earlier in the year. The firm was hit hard by a £35 million write-down in its Middle East division, as it looked to restructure its offering there, despite strong performances in North America, Continental Europe and Australia. Another aspect of the company to buck its downward trend was the UK, where Arcadis enjoyed growth of 13% in 2018, well ahead of the broader UK consulting market.
In a bid to maintain the positive momentum of its UK wing, Arcadis has sought to emphasise the role of entrepreneurialism in its firm with a new appointment. Nilesh Parmar, who has been with Arcadis since 2004, has joined the business’ UK leadership team in the recently created role of Chief Entrepreneur. In this role, Parmar will report directly to UK CEO Mark Cowlard and act as a strategic catalyst for new business creation at the firm, working to harness pan-sector innovation with clients and partners.
Speaking on his new challenge, Parmar said, “The world around us is changing at a rapid pace and it’s crucial Arcadis stays ahead of the curve by offering our clients – and their customers – game-changing solutions and valuable new experiences. For me, the role of Chief Entrepreneur is not only about injecting creativity and fresh thinking into everything we do, it’s about challenging norms, testing ideas and launching new products at speed and scale to create solutions where currently only problems exist.”
Parmar arrived at Arcadis as an Associate 15 years ago, before becoming a Partner in 2013. He was previously a Regional Sector Leader in the firm's manufacturing, logistics and technology sector. Prior to his time with Arcadis he worked as a Site/Project Manager with Tilbury Douglas, which is now part of Interserve. Parmar holds a Degree in Construction Technology and Management from De Monfort University.
Commenting on the appointment, Mark Cowlard, Arcadis CEO for UK and Ireland, stated, “Whilst entrepreneurialism isn’t the sole responsibility of one individual – all of our people already play an active role – we wanted an entrepreneurial custodian who can adopt a unique vantage point outside of our core business, identifying and harnessing emerging trends to deliver fresh thinking for our clients. With his vast experience in our industry, strong existing client relationships and boundless energy for new ideas, Nilesh fits the bill perfectly.”
