WSP Environmental Acquires Environmental Strategies Consulting LLC
WSP Environmental is a global environmental consultancy that's part of London-based WSP Group plc, ranked No. 21 by Engineering News-Record on its 2006 list of Top International Design Firms.
The acquisition confirms the arrival of a major new force in the North American environmental market. The combined global business now has approximately 900 staff operating from more than 60 offices worldwide.
The acquisition provides ESC with access to one of the world's best global environmental services platforms and strengthens their ability to offer broad-based global service partnerships to multinational corporations. In addition, WSP Environmental provides ESC with a robust corporate structure and financial strength that will allow it to expand on its environmental liability transfer offering. WSP Environmental's existing US business, which focused on compliance and management systems, corporate social responsibility, liability management, and product environmental issues, will now be able to offer a significantly greater range of services to its US clients.
ESC's 20-year track record in the North American market further strengthens WSP Environmental's overall global capacity and expands its ability to assist leading international organizations in managing their environmental activities to a single, global standard.
Jan Chizzonite will continue in the leadership role of WSP Environmental Strategies. Working alongside Jan Chizzonite will be Chris Hazen, the principal director of WSP Environmental's existing U.S. operations. The combined businesses will report to WSP Environmental's global board via Stuart McLachlan, the Global Managing Director of WSP Environmental.
Jan Chizzonite of WSP Environmental Strategies comments, "We are delighted to have joined the WSP Environmental team. Their vision and commitment to staff provided the ideal match. Both companies are client- and business-focused and seek to combine commercial awareness with the highest levels of technical advice. We look forward to being part of the ongoing success of the combined companies."
Stuart McLachlan, Global Managing Director of WSP Environmental, comments, "Our culture is at the center of our business and from this perspective the fit is perfect. We aim to fully integrate ESC with both our existing U.S. business and the global business at the earliest opportunity. These are exciting times for WSP Environmental, and the merging of talent represents a major step toward realizing our vision of becoming the leading globally integrated consulting firm in the environmental and energy marketplace."
WSP Environmental provides a comprehensive range of market-leading, commercially oriented environmental, health and safety consulting services across all sectors, including due-diligence, compliance, liability assessment and transfer, investigation, engineering, remediation, corporate social responsibility and product design. Its clients include internationally recognized names, many of whom are Fortune 500 and FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) 100 companies. WSP Environmental is part of WSP Group Plc, which provides management and consulting services to the built and natural environment and employs approximately 6,500 people worldwide.
WSP Environmental Strategies will continue providing services to ESC's existing client base with the same management and project teams that its clients have enjoyed in the past. Notably, the long-term commitment of the four principal members of ESC's management team, Jan Chizzonite, John Simon, John Black and Jim Bulman, has been secured. They have each been with ESC for more than 10 years and their continued involvement and contribution through ongoing leadership is welcomed.
The acquisition follows WSP Environmental's acquisition in July 2006 of three complementary environmental businesses in Australia: Ark Consulting, Responsive Environmental Solutions and ESH Connect Australasia. These acquisitions created a fifty-strong, full-service consulting practice able to deliver environmental, health and safety, remediation, and product regulatory tracking services across Australia and globally, while offering a local base for WSP Environmental's international clients.
SOURCE: WSP Environmental