David Cash has been elected as the new Chairman of international architectural, engineering and design firm, BDP and takes up the role from 01 July.
David began his BDP career in Preston in 1980 and has been a company director for 22 years. He was Chair of BDP’s northern studios for 14 years, and in 2008 when international expansion became a central element to the firm’s development plan, he became the Director for International Development. David has been instrumental in increasing BDP’s presence worldwide, developing studios in India, China and the UAE. David will continue to develop BDP internationally and remain Chair of the MENA region.
He said of his appointment: “My role as Chairman will be to give direction to the firm for the next few years. As a company we always to need to be improving and evolving in these changing times, rather than be afraid of change we need to embrace it. If I can take BDP from being a UK-based company that does projects overseas to a world-based organisation, I would feel like I had made my mark.”
David takes over the role from Tony McGuirk who chaired BDP for six years. Tony developed the ethos of ‘Creating Places for People’ which created the platform for BDP’s re-emergence as a major design force.
Other appointments at BDP
Heather Wells has been appointed group finance director taking over from John Parker who previously held the position. She will now form part of the firm’s Executive together with BDP’s chairman and chief executive.
Chris Harding is BDP’s new Chair of the architectural profession. Chris has been with the firm for over 20 years and worked on some of the BDP's best known projects including the Channel Tunnel, St Peters Campus for the University of Sunderland, the Millennium Building for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Bournemouth Public Library and several leading research centres for the University of Cambridge.
Architect Scott Mackenzie, based in the Glasgow studio, has been appointed head of the education sector. He is currently working on new build facilities for both Inverness and Kilmarnock Colleges and the University of Strathclyde’s Technology Innovation Centre. He is also project director for the Robert Gordon University Garthdee Campus. Scott joined BDP in 1999, has been a director since 2006 and a company director since 2011.
Steve Merridew has been appointed BDP’s new head of sustainability. Steve, recently named one of Building Magazine’s Top 50 Rising Sustainability Stars, joined BDP in 2008 and has a strong background in low energy design, masterplanning and infrastructure.
