This newly created executive role, which takes effect from 1 March 2015, would see Donaldson continue to work in the business in a full-time capacity after he steps down as Group Managing Director in the middle of this year.

In this new role, Donaldson will draw upon the knowledge and experience gathered during his eight years as Group Managing Director, and a long history within the architecture industry, to steer the firm along a path of future growth.

Donaldson moved to Asia in 2007 to focus on the region and grow the northern hemisphere business. Since then, Woods Bagot’s Asia business has grown from 5 per cent of revenue and zero profit to approximately 25 per cent of revenue and approximately 30 per cent of profit.

Since 2006, Woods Bagot has opened five studios: San Francisco, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi and in 2014 amassed a net revenue of approximately US$157 million (more than seven times the net revenue in 2006).

Also during this time, the firm adopted a unique matrix organisational structure to support the firm’s global studio vision, countering the limitations of reporting silos.

The future of the firm looks optimistic with Donaldson predicting that investment from China will keep fuelling domestic construction in Australia. In addition, deregulation in China and the slowing of the Chinese market is expected to create a double incentive for the investment capital outflow, particularly to New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“We are now a truly global firm, and are the seventh largest in the world,” says Donaldson. “We are winning impressive projects with quality clients throughout the world. The work is also achieving unprecedented recognition and awards. The future of Woods Bagot is assured for many years to come.”

Woods Bagot will appoint a current director to the Group Managing Director role for the global architecture firm in March.

Woods Bagot
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