Global chief executive resigns from Aecom-owned consultant without explanation

The global chief executive of Davis Langdon has resigned just months after completing a major senior level restructure at the consultancy giant bought by Aecom in August 2010.

Jeremy Horner, appointed to the role in October 2010 following the departure of Rob Smith, was at Davis Langdon for 20 years before resigning in recent days. Staff were told yesterday, but no reason for his departure has been given.

Aecom confirmed the departure this morning, at the same time announcing that it had appointed former Edaw boss Bob Pell as global chief executive of its programme, cost and consultancy practice, which includes Davis Langdon.

It is not yet clear to what extent Pell’s new role with differ from Horner’s.

Horner’s resignation comes after a period of intense change at the business following the Aecom takeover. Horner led the restructuring of the business to focus more on infrastructure and overseas work after the purchase. Following that, 33 senior partners left the business in October under a further restructure designed to reduce a “top-heavy” management structure.

At the time Horner said: “This was a difficult but necessary process and I am confident that we now have the right people in the right places.”

In a statement today, Aecom said: “Jeremy Horner has resigned from AECOM.  Jeremy has been with Davis Langdon for 20 years, during which time he … was instrumental in Davis Langdon’s successful integration into AECOM and in establishing AECOM’s program, cost and consultancy global business line.  AECOM wishes Jeremy the best of success in his future endeavours.”

Aecom said that Pell, who most recently served as its senior vice president of operations and chief integration officer, had been  involved in integrating Aecom’s purchases in to the wider business.

Pell said he was “delighted” to be ask to run the group cost consultancy business. “I have spent the past year working closely with the organization’s leadership team and am encouraged by our potential for growth and that we can become the world’s leading provider in our field. 

“By working closely with AECOM’s other businesses, we have a truly unique, integrated offer for market sectors in all geographies, and I will be focusing on taking this message to our current and future clients around the globe,” he said.

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