Richard Liebrechts leads Oxford Intelligence - Ecorys

FDI-specialist Oxford Intelligence has appointed Richard Liebrechts as its new Managing Director. Liebrechts succeeds Peter Lemagnen, who co-founded the company in 1996 and according to plan has decided to exit the firm, although he will continue to support the company as Senior Advisor.

Oxford Intelligence was established in 1996 by Peter Lemagnen and Julia Cox, and has since grown into one of Europe’s leading research-led consultancy organisations specialising in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Based in Whaddon, UK, the firm provides a wide range of industry, sector and corporate intelligence solutions to clients in the public and private sector.

In November 2012, Oxford Intelligence was purchased by Ecorys, a Dutch headquartered research and consulting firm with offices in 12 countries, including 5 in the UK (Birmingham, London, Keele, Leeds and Whaddon). Since the acquisition, the management team at Oxford Intelligence has worked on integrating the business into Ecorys – with as result an enlarged Oxford Intelligence/Ecorys business unit focused on Foreign Direct Investment.

Following the successful integration, co-founder Cox has decided to leave the firm. Lemagnen, also co-founder, is stepping down as Managing Director but will continue to support the company as Senior Advisor. The Ecorys management has appointed the Dutchman Richard Liebrechts as the new Managing Directorper as of 1 October. Liebrechts has worked for more than 15 years for the firm*, serving as a partner since 2009. After the acquisition of Oxford Intelligence he joined the firm’s as a board member, acting as Commercial Director, to support the transition.

* Between 1999 and 2001 Liebrechts worked for the Netherlands Economic Institute (NEI), the legal predecessor of Ecorys. In 2000 the former Dutch organisation of Ecorys merged  with the British company ECOTEC Research and Consulting, and rebranded to Ecorys.