Richard Wankmuller, newly named CEO and Managing Director of Australia-based design firm Cardno Ltd., (No. 35-Top 150 Global Firms) is an American who formerly headed North American operations for GHD Pty., also based in that country.He has lived and worked in Australia twice over a five-year period. Wankmuller takes over the $1.1 billion-firm as it faces a profit shortfall in business results ahead of its year-end announcement on Aug. 18 and in adapting to changing markets in Australia and North America, in particular. The firm cut about 300 staff out of about 8,000 in the last six months, according to the Financial Review of Australia. ENR queried him on strategies ahead to meet the challenges.
Update: Cardno CFO Graham Yerbury, who had been interim CEO for six months before Wankmuller took over, is leaving the firm in October for a similar role at oil and gas firm Senex Energy, Cardno said on July 29. Chairman John Marlay expressed disappointment on the departure to an Australian publication, but said "no internal issues were at play."