BDP Manchester director elected group chairman

David Cash, who began his BDP career in Preston in 1980 and chaired the northern region for 14 years before taking an international role in 2008, will next week become the new chairman of the country's biggest architectural practice.

Cash will take up the role from 1 July, taking over from London-based Tony McGuirk, who has been chairman for six years.

As director for international development, Cash increased BDP's presence worldwide, developing studios in India, China and the United Arab Emirates. He will continue to develop BDP internationally and remain chairman of BDP in Middle East, Europe and Africa.

He said of his appointment: "My role as chairman will be to give direction to the firm for the next few years. As a company we always to need to be improving and evolving in these changing times, rather than be afraid of change we need to embrace it. If I can take BDP from being a UK-based company that does projects overseas to a world-based organisation, I would feel like I had made my mark."

The BDP board elects its chairman every two years. McGuirk decided to step down this year but will remain on the board.

Meanwhile, Heather Wells, based in Manchester, has been appointed group finance director taking over from John Parker who previously held the position. She will now form part of the firm's executive together with BDP's chairman and chief executive.

Also in Manchester, Steve Merridew has been appointed BDP's new head of sustainability.

In London, Chris Harding is BDP's new chairman of the architectural profession. Architect Scott Mackenzie, based in the Glasgow studio, has been appointed head of the education sector.