Features
Populous Introduces Chief People Officer & Promotes Regional Board Members
Architecture and design practice Populous announced the creation of a new chief people officer role, well as the appointment of three of its regional board members to Global Holdings Board members.
Taking on the newly created role of CPO is Kristin Gibbar, who also joins the practice as senior principal. She’ll be based out of the firm’s Americas HQ in Kansas City, starting her new role on June 24.
Gibbar’s experience includes chief human resources officer, and Global HR director roles at companies including Black & Veatch, Amazon, and Sun Microsystems.
Gibbar will report to Populous’ founder, chair, and CEO, Earl Santee, who commented, “As our business and the range of services we can offer to clients continue to
expand, our staff growth has also increased steadily. We are now at over 1,200
staff across 29 offices worldwide, so our ability to drive a global people strategy
and programs has become increasingly important.
“Kristin’s appointment to this new global position will allow us to create
consistency and harmonisation in roles, further foster leadership and career
development at a pan-regional level, and strategically enhance workforce mobility,
performance management, and overall talent management across our regions.”
Populous also announced three new internal appointments to its Global Holdings
Board, all of whom bring extensive leadership and project experience across the
company.
First, Declan Sharkey, currently a senior principal and regional board member within
the EMEA region, who has worked on a diverse portfolio of innovative projects across Europe. This includes multiple current stadium projects in Italy, as well as arenas in Munich, Cardiff, and Cork in his native Ireland. His most recent project is Co-op Live Manchester, the largest arena in the UK, and the most sustainable in Europe.
“In addition to his architectural roles, Sharkey plays a key part in business
development for all new arena and elite training facility projects within the EMEA
region,” according to a press release announcing the appointments and promotions.
Second, Scott Capstack, senior principal and design director, Americas, who provides oversight of the regional design process, as well as insight and in-depth knowledge of trends and innovations across building typologies.
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Capstack has collaborated with NFL
teams, MLS franchises, convention centers, collegiate and university programs, and
multiple additional clients on projects across the industry. “His experience allows
him to advise and direct design with an informed, diverse and creative perspective, assisting on all aspects of projects. This combines with a talent for cutting-edge facility design across a portfolio of work that encompasses a variety of athletics facilities and convention centers, including the Los Angeles Convention Centre, Gillette Stadium, and Levi’s Stadium,” according to the press release.
Third, Brett Wightman, senior principal, APAC, who has extensive experience in designing large-scale sports, entertainment, and aviation facilities for Populous, based out of the Populous Singapore office.
“Wightman has strong experience working across complex design and construction programs across Asia. Projects include Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan, KL Sports City in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The Londoner Arena in Macao, and the soon-to-open Kai-Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong,” the press release states, adding, “Brett has also held leadership roles on recent Populous COEX, Transit-Oriented Development and Aviation projects across Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.”