Gensler announces the appointment of four Principals to its leadership team in the UK and Europe. The new Principals bring decades of expertise across a range of disciplines including architecture, sustainability, technology, and marketing. The appointments mark a milestone for Gensler in the UK and Europe, as it continues its expansion across the region.
Diana Lee, Naomi Sakamoto, Juliette Morgan, and Sarah Ekundayo join Gensler’s leadership at a key moment of growth for Gensler in the UK and Europe. In 2023, Gensler hired 100 new employees across its five offices in London, Birmingham, Paris, Berlin, and Munich, recruiting some of the best local talent to deliver its portfolio of projects for leading clients.
Julia Simet, Co-CEO at Gensler, said: “We are delighted to welcome Diana, Naomi, Juliette, and Sarah as Principals at Gensler. They have made an incredible impact to the firm for many years – delivering innovative solutions for our clients, leading the industry on challenges in the built environment through engaging thought leadership and driving business growth. It is an honour to work with such talented women who are leading the architecture industry into its next evolution. We look forward to the expertise they will continue to bring to the business as Principals, as we at Gensler continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in design and architecture.”
Duncan Swinhoe, Managing Principal at Gensler, said: “Congratulations to our four new Principals. They all bring a wealth of expertise, decades of industry knowledge and unique viewpoints which will be essential to our leadership team. As we continue our mission of shaping the future of cities across the UK, Europe and globally at Gensler, we are thrilled to welcome our new Principals who will support the development of innovative, forward-thinking strategies to drive our growth trajectory and create impact in the region.”
Diana Lee
As London’s Cities Studio Leader, Diana uses her expertise as a registered town planner and landscape architect to transform spaces based on user experience, designing adaptable development models that respect local culture and community needs and desires. Diana leads large-scale urban design and education projects in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, KSA, and Asia.
Naomi Sakamoto
Naomi leads both the Technology practice area for the firm’s Europe region and a studio serving innovative clients in sciences, tech, and creative industries. With a background in urban design, civil engineering, and architecture, Naomi is a regular keynote speaker at leading events across Europe, delivering thought leadership on topics related to the future of work and the importance of physical space to nurture talent and enhance human connection.
Juliette Morgan
Juliette is an ESG Consultancy Director and a global leader in Gensler’s Climate Action & Sustainability practice. In her role of leading ESG Strategy for clients, she brings 20+ years of experience as a commercial real estate professional responsible for asset managing and developing millions of feet across the U.S. and U.K.
Sarah Ekundayo
As the Regional Marketing Director for Europe, Sarah works with leaders to build Gensler’s brand and drive business goals and communications strategies across key markets. Sarah’s wealth of experience in marketing, business development, and communications, forms the basis of compelling and creative multi-channel strategies and campaigns.
The world’s leading and most innovative design firm, Gensler unites creativity, imagination, and innovation to cultivate human connection and drive positive change in the built environment. Grounded in local experience and bolstered by global expertise, Gensler’s designs not only shape the cityscape but also catalyse economic growth, fuelling thriving businesses and vibrant urban communities.
