WSP closes Golder deal, appoints Marie-Claude Dumas as Canada CEO
Montreal-based design and engineering consultancy WSP has closed its $1.4 billion acquisition of Golder, a Mississauga-based environmental consulting firm. The firm also announced the appointment of Marie-Claude Dumas to the role of president and CEO of WSP Canada.
The mammoth deal, which was announced in December 2020, adds 7,000 employees across 30 countries to WSP’s footprint. Approximately 14,000 of WSP’s 54,000 staff will now be dedicated to environmental services and sustainable infrastructure.
“We expect that the addition of Golder will contribute to both strategic growth and value creation for many years to come,” said Alexandre L’Heureux, president and CEO of WSP.
A release from the global consultancy noted that leaders from Golder will take on strategic positions throughout WSP’s operating regions and support functions. Golder CEO Hisham Mahmoud, however, will be retiring from his role.
“We wish him continued success in his future endeavors,” L’Heureux said.
Marie-Claude Dumas, meanwhile, will succeed Ryan Brain as leader of WSP’s Canada operations – which has more than 8,500 professionals.
Brain served in the role for a little over two years. He had previously spent 22 years at Deloitte Canada, where he was latterly a regional managing partner.
“We thank Ryan Brain for his contribution to the success of WSP’s Canadian operations during his tenure and for his ongoing support during the transition,” L’Heureux said.
Dumas joined WSP in January 2020 as global director of major projects & programs and executive market leader for Quebec. She joined the firm from rival SNC-Lavalin, where she spent 12 years and held increasingly senior roles. Based in Montreal, Dumas latterly served as the engineering consultancy’s president of clean power and EVP of human resources.
Prior to SNC-Lavalin, she spent six years as a senior manager in Nortel’s supply chain function. Dumas began her career as a consultant at strategy firm Bain & Company.
She holds an MBA and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering from Université de Montréal.
“As we have entered the last year of our strategic cycle, we are confident that Marie-Claude’s extensive technical background, combined with her track record in major project delivery, will set the foundation for sustained growth at WSP in Canada, in addition to capturing the benefits offered by the Golder acquisition,” L’Heureux said.
