WSP has appointed Leanne Smith-Perrins as head of transformation advisory, continuing the growth of its new Strategic Advisory business. 

Based in Birmingham, she will drive the growth of the Transformation Advisory discipline, focusing particularly on preparing and supporting organisations through complex change.

Smith-Perrins joins the engineering and environmental professional services consultancy from Arcadis where she was business director and partner of business transformation, responsible for growing and maturing the UK business transformation capability. 

As a chartered management consultant, she has supported clients across both the public and private sectors through organisation redesign and major programme mobilisation.

Earlier this year, Strategic Advisory became the WSP’s fifth business unit, alongside Property & Buildings, Transport & Infrastructure, Planning & Advisory and Water, Energy & Industry.

A key part of WSP’s 2022-2024 Strategic Growth Plan is enhancing the firm’s advisory services offering through the establishment of its own business unit, led by managing director Ian Liddell.

With 220 people ranging from economists to due diligence specialists, Strategic Advisory will support a range of public and private sector clients.

Smith-Perrins said: “I am excited to join WSP at a time of such unprecedented pace and scale of change, to develop and build the Transformation Advisory capability. 

“Backed by the strong technical expertise of the wider WSP business, Transformation Advisory will help our clients not only improve business performance, but also allow them to be resilient to future needs and successfully meet their ESG goals.” 

Ian Liddell, managing director for Strategic Advisory at WSP, added: “I am delighted to welcome Leanne to WSP and see her bring immense experience to our business. Transformation Advisory will help our clients navigate through complex change programmes successfully and is an exciting strand of our broader Strategic Advisory offering. 

“Leanne joins WSP at a significant time of growth and ambition and stemming from our 2022-24 strategy. I’m confident she will be a fantastic addition to the Strategic Advisory leadership team and the business more widely.”