David Hughes named CEO at Swanke Hayden Connell.

David J Hughes, Int'l Assoc AIA, RIBA, has been named chief executive officer at Swanke Hayden Connell Architects (SHCA). In his new position, Hughes will oversee SHCA operations worldwide. The U.S. business is headquartered in New York, with offices in Miami, FL; Newark, NJ; Stamford, CT and Washington, DC. The European business is based in London with offices in Sheffield, UK; Paris, France; Istanbul, Turkey; and most recently Moscow in the Russian Federation.

"My new role, although certainly challenging, is essentially an expansion of the work I have been carrying out for the European side of the firm for the last few years.

"Helping to establish the appropriate strategic direction for the firm and providing sound business leadership are my primary aims," stated Hughes.

Based in London, Hughes previously served as principal and managing director, responsible for SHCA's European operations. His efforts contributed to the firm's geographic expansion in Europe as well as the broadening of its markets beyond its commercial sector base into such areas as healthcare, education and residential.

He is a member of the four-person SHCA executive committee, helping to formulate and direct the business and strategic planning efforts for all of the company's operations.

Since joining SHCA in 1988, Hughes has managed numerous projects, both new build and fit-outs, for major corporate clients and financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers, ExxonMobil, Citibank, St Martin's Properties, Prudential, Merrill Lynch and Wates City of London Properties. He has represented a number of key clients in the capacity of expert witness.

Hughes graduated from Sheffield University in 1978 and moved to London to work initially on public housing and community projects.

He then worked on the restoration of Alexandra Palace and the prestigious Broadgate development prior to joining SHCA.