Arup has unveiled a new board structure, as it introduces new CEO and non-executive chairperson roles.
The global consultancy announced Jerome Frost OBE will become CEO and Hilde Tonne will become non-executive chair of the firm’s new Arup Group Limited Board.
Tonne previously served as executive director at Telenor Group and chief innovation officer at Ramboll Group.
She also held non-executive board roles at Vattenfall, Danske Bank and Det Norske Veritas, and has been serving as a non-executive director on Arup’s Group Board since 2023.
The new structure, which takes effect from April 2025, will comprise:
Arup Group Limited Board (AGLB): appointed by the trustees and led by Tonne as non-executive chair, and will provide oversight of strategy execution, the firm’s performance, compliance, and leadership appointments.
Executive Management Board (EMB): led by Jerome Frost OBE as CEO and will be responsible for Arup’s leadership, operations and implementing the strategy.
Arup Trustees: Mahadev Raman will continue as chairman of trustees.
Further appointments to the new boards will be shared in 2025.
Jerome Frost OBE said: “As a proudly independent, trust-owned firm, we focus entirely on our clients and consistently invest in research and technical expertise.
“Whether it’s designing more resilient rail infrastructure or using AI to protect people from rising urban heat, our autonomy enables us to deliver the greatest impact for our clients’ projects.”
Hilde Tonne said: “The company’s commitment to helping clients with decarbonisation, building resilience, and deploying innovative technology solutions significantly enhances the quality of life for people around the world.
“In an era of AI and digital advances, there is immense potential for Arup to play an even greater role in addressing the challenges faced by communities, cities, and countries.”
Mahadev Raman, chairman of Arup trustees, said: “These changes will ensure we preserve our unique ownership structure – a firm owned in trust, for the benefit of our members.
“Arup has transformed and grown over the decades, with over 18,000 members today – from engineers, planners and economists to psychologists, material scientists and ecologists.
“This is the natural next step in evolving our governance to meet the needs of a business of our scale, operating in an increasingly complex world.”
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