ERM, the leading global provider of sustainability consulting and related services focused on environmental, health, safety, risk, and social issues, has announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Keryn James as the new CEO of the group with current CEO John Alexander moving to the role of Chairman. The transition will take place in April.

With some 30 years’ experience in the industry, John Alexander has been ERM’s CEO for nine years, during which time he has led the company through a period of strong growth. This has included leading the process to bring-in new private equity investors to support the company’s continued organic and acquisition driven growth, most notably when OMERS Private Equity (OPE) and Alberta Investment Management Company (AIMCo) invested in 2015 at a total company valuation of US$1.7 billion.

Keryn has been with ERM for 24 years and is an experienced executive with an extensive history in the environmental consulting industry. During her tenure at ERM, she has held responsibility for client development, project delivery, people leadership and operational performance. Reflecting ERM’s history of well-managed succession, Keryn has been a member of ERM’s Executive Committee since 2008 and an Executive Director of the Board since 2015. For the past two years prior to being promoted to CEO, Keryn held the position of Global Director of Operations. Keryn will be based in London.

“I am deeply honored and privileged to be given the opportunity to lead this great company forward. We launched a bold new five-year strategy for the company earlier this financial year building on both our existing core services and the new, emerging needs of our clients. John and I will continue to work together closely to execute this strategy, which will continue to offer exciting and sustainable career development opportunities for ERM Partners and staff,” said Keryn James.

John commented: “ERM has great people, a fantastic reputation and market position and a very strong senior leadership team that Keryn has helped shape over the last two years. I am confident that under Keryn’s leadership, and with the support of her team and all ERM Partners, the company has a great future and will go from strength to strength.”

“It has been a unique privilege to serve as CEO of ERM over the past decade,” John continued. “As Chairman, in addition to supporting Keryn and the senior management team, I will be representing the company with our key clients, with external organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and in supporting the company’s material acquisitions as we continue to supplement our organic growth.”

“We are delighted that Keryn has taken on the CEO role and that John will remain very active as Chairman,” said Mark Redman, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Private Equity, OMERS Private Markets, which is ERM’s largest external shareholder and invested in ERM in partnership with AIMCo. “The combination will ensure the continued success that their partnership has brought to the company over the last two years.”