Kevin Hayes will become Managing Partner of Cundall on 1 July 2026, succeeding Carole O’Neil following the completion of her four-year term. In line with Cundall’s governance structure, the Managing Partner role is elected by the Partnership for a four-year term, ensuring regular leadership renewal while maintaining continuity and long-term stability.
Headquartered in Newcastle, United Kingdom, Cundall is a global, independent, multi-disciplinary consultancy that specialises in delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions across the built environment.
Currently celebrating its 50th birthday, in the past four years Cundall has grown to 1,300 people while opening new offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, Philippines and Malaysia. This leadership transition therefore represents a planned evolution of the business at a time when it continues to expand across new markets, sectors, and geographies.
Kevin, an expert in building services engineering, brings almost 30 years of experience with Cundall, including 15 years as a Partner. For the past decade, he has successfully led the London office and has played a key role in shaping Cundall’s direction through his position on the Management Board. His appointment reflects both continuity in leadership and a commitment to building on the strong foundations established under Carole’s tenure.
For many years, Kevin created and led the Global Corporate Real Estate sector, including its fit-out sub-sector, working closely with global corporate clients. His technical expertise and drive for innovation have resulted in truly integrated solutions and fantastic spaces for clients.
Kevin said: “I would like to thank Carole for a very important term as Managing Partner. She has seen the practice grow to 1,300 people and opened offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Germany, India, Philippines and Malaysia. Most importantly she introduced and has driven a strategy for Cundall that has helped the practice prepare for the next phase of our development.
“We are very grateful for, and proud of, Carole’s tenure as Managing Partner and wish her every success in the future.
“Over the next four years, I will be building on the existing strategy with particular focus on our markets, our clients, and our technical excellence. I will ensure that we continue to advance our thinking and extend our global footprint, both in terms of client and locations, but also provide amazing opportunities for our employees.
“I am enthusiastic about collaborating with people, supporting and nurturing talent, and passionate about inclusive leadership which allows everyone to have a voice.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past 50 years, and the future of Cundall must be about progression. We need to be courageous in defining Cundall as a truly independent global engineering consultancy that has ambition and a willingness to succeed.”
Carole O’Neil, Cundall’s outgoing Managing Partner, commented: “Cundall’s success has always been built on the strength of our people, our culture and our commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.
“Everything I’ve done during my time with the Practice has been driven by a desire to help build a business where exceptional people can build exceptional careers – where they are stretched, supported and inspired, and where the work they do genuinely matters. I’ve lived this myself, and I’ve learned so much over the last two decades.
“As I hand over leadership of this culture to Kevin, I’m grateful for the support, guidance and friendship of the people who have helped to shape this chapter of my career.”
Tomas Neeson, Cundall’s Chairman said: “As we look ahead, this transition reflects both the maturity of our business and the strength of our people. Kevin’s journey within Cundall has been a testament to his leadership, commitment and deep understanding of our values, making him a natural choice to lead the practice forward. Having built this business together over many years, our Partners share a strong foundation of trust and collaboration that will continue to support our future success. I am excited to support Kevin and the wider partnership as Cundall embarks on its next stage of growth.”
