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Ramboll brings in Denmark boss to head UK business as Steve Canadine steps down

Robert Arpe to lead UK business as Ramboll completes UK leadership reshuffle. 

Robert Arpe, Ramboll

Danish engineering consulting business has appointed Robert Arpe, managing director of its Denmark business to replace Steve Canadine as head of it UK business.

Canadine is understood to have left the business last week. The firm has given no detailed explanation for the leadership reshuffle stating simply this week that it had “announced a change of leadership for its UK team”.

“Our business in the UK has had major write-downs on a large project in the Middle East. The large write-down in the Middle East is a result of a project tendered in 2012,”

“Robert Arpe, Managing Director of Ramboll Denmark, will assume the position of acting managing director for Ramboll UK, replacing Steve Canadine, who will be leaving Ramboll,” said the statement.

“During his time with Ramboll, Steve Canadine has significantly developed our position in the UK and played an important role in building the design and technical excellence for which Ramboll in the UK is renowned,” it added. “We thank Steve and wish him all the best in the future.”

The move comes after half year results to June 2015 which showed the firm’s first half pre-tax profits fall by 18%, and margin drop to 3.5% from 4.1%, despite group revenue growth in the same period of 30%. 

Problems in UK business, including write downs linked to a Middle East contract, plus tough conditions in the oil & gas market were highlighted in the firm’s half year results.

“Our business in the UK has had major write-downs on a large project in the Middle East,”  the firm said its half year statement. “The large write-down in the Middle East is a result of a project tendered in 2012,” it added.

“The impact on to the group result shows that our ongoing efforts and investment into Project Excellence needs to be continued with high priority,” the half year statement concluded. “This initiative, started in 2013 and intensified in the last 12 months, includes comprehensive measures to ensure that risks are considered and managed at all tender and project stages.”

Ramboll also acquired US environment consultant ENVIRON in December 2014 and has been working to integrate the business since January 2015. 

Arpe is described by Ramboll as one of its “most experienced leaders” having led Ramboll Denmark since 2008 and been a member of the executive management team of Ramboll Denmark since 2006.  

Prior to this he was senior director for the Buildings, Industry & Telecom division in Denmark and during the course of his career has been the project director for some of Denmark’s largest and most complex transport projects such as the Great Belt Link and the Øresund link. 

Canadine was appointed as managing director in 2012 succeeding Charles McBeath who stepped down after leading the firm since 2009. He joined the business with the acquisition of Gifford where he started as a structural engineer in 1996.

If you would like to contact Antony Oliver about this, or any other story, please email antony.oliver@infrastructure-intelligence.com.