Carr announces a major succession, Woods Bagot reveals a new chief executive officer (CEO), AJC welcomes a new studio director and BVN hands out several promotions in this month’s round up of industry appointments.

McCue departs from Carr

Last month, Carr announced its managing director Chris McCue will be leaving Carr after 13 years at the Melbourne-based architecture and interior design studio. In his place, Stephen McGarry, David Brooks and Richard Beel will be stepping up as directors, working closely with CEO Nick Carr.

The incoming directors have overseen awarded and anticipated residential, commercial and hospitality projects for Carr over the past decade, including 835 High Street in Armadale, Como Terraces in South Yarra, The International in Brighton, 116 Rokeby in Collingwood, United Places and Jackalope.

“I am very excited about continuing to develop projects with our clients centred around placemaking, craftsmanship and thoughtful resolution,” Brooks said.

Carr’s founding principal Sue Carr expressed gratitude to McCue for his leadership during a period of significant growth for the studio, particularly of its architectural output. 

“It is an exciting chapter for the studio,” she said.

Carr’s leadership changes coincide with its office relocation to 116 Rokeby Street in Collingwood later this year.

A new CEO for Woods Bagot

Global architecture, interior design and master planning firm Woods Bagot has revealed the appointment of Sarah Kay to the position of CEO. 

Kay has been a member of the Woods Bagot leadership group for 25 years and a director for 15 years. An architect with an international career spanning North America, Australia and the UK, Kay has led and designed high-profile projects and integrated precincts across commercial, transport, residential and culture sectors. Most recently, Kay led Woods Bagot’s Sydney studio, a role she has also held in New York. 

Assuming the role of CEO from today, Kay succeeds Nik Karalis after his nine-year tenure in the top position, heralding “a new global chapter” for the firm, which was founded in 1869 in Australia.

“This is an incredible moment in our history,” says Karalis. “Driven to reinforce our shared excellence by amplifying the power of design, Sarah’s global career, strategic mindset, business leadership, board experience and focus on cultural inclusivity make her an incredible leader capable of driving the next chapter of Woods Bagot forward.”

Many movements at BVN

BVN, an international collective of architects, designers and researchers, recently announced a swathe of appointments working across architecture and design.

This includes two new associates, Jeremy Zigenbine in Brisbane and Nazgol Asadi in Sydney, as well as eight new senior associates: Brett Hinze, Liuh Huoy Chen and Jamie Gonzalez in Brisbane and Alberto Quizon, Christiane Mertens, Charlotte Bell, Ellie Park and Tom Keeley-Reid in Sydney. 

BVN has also unveiled six new practice directors in Brisbane, including Emma Robinson, Andrew Currie, Peta Hawkins, Michelle Rehn, Tersius Maass and Rebecca Miskin. 

Monique Franklin joins AJC Architects

AJC Architects has appointed Monique Franklin as the new studio director – creative lead, interiors. She will oversee a team of 14 interior professionals at the growing Sydney studio, which comprises 105 architects, urban designers and interior designers.

Franklin joins AJC with more than 20 years of experience as an interior design leader in Australia and Hong Kong, most recently working as head of interior design at TURNER Studio in Sydney. AJC’s chief operating officer Lynette Apostolou says AJC’s strategic growth trajectory in its interior design sector has been “further solidified” by Franklin’s appointment.

“It is poised to steer AJC towards a future of design excellence and innovation,” Apostolou says.

See last month’s roundup of appointments here.