Arup has announced a new board structure, with the current group chair Jerome Frost stepping into a newly created CEO role from April next year.

Hilde Tonne, former CEO of Norway’s transmission system operator Statnett SF, will join as non-executive chair of the firm’s new Arup Group Limited Board.

She brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as executive director at Telenor Group and chief innovation officer at Ramboll Group, in addition to several non-executive board roles.

Tonne has been serving as a non-executive director on Arup’s Group Board since 2023.

Since its trust-owned structure was first established in the late 1970s, the company has grown into a global consultancy working in more than 140 countries.

Today, Arup comprises more than 18,000 staff – from designers and engineers to economists and ecologists.

These governance changes reflect Arup’s continued growth and the demand for its services, enabling it to respond more swiftly to market opportunities.

The new structure, which takes effect from April 2025, will comprise:

Arup Group Limited Board (AGLB): appointed by the trustees and led by Hilde Tonne as non-executive chair. The board’s role will be to provide oversight of strategy execution, the firm’s performance, compliance, and leadership appointments.

Executive Management Board (EMB): led by Jerome Frost as CEO. The board will be responsible for Arup’s leadership, operations and implementing the strategy.

Arup Trustees: Mahadev Raman will continue as chair of trustees, maintaining the trustees’ role of safeguarding the firm’s independence, long-term success, and unique culture on behalf of Arup’s members.

Further appointments to the new boards will be shared next year.