People News: CentrePort Canada Inc., Arup, Alstom
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
CentrePort President and CEO Carly Edmundson (left) and Arup Principal and New York Practice Leader Jon Cicconi (right).
CentrePort Canada Inc. (CentrePort) welcomes new President and CEO Carly Edmundson. Also, Jon Cicconi joins Arup as Principal and New York Architecture Practice Leader; and Alstom CFO Laurent Martinez announces his resignation.
The CentrePort Board of Directors on April 12 announced that Carly Edmundson has been named as the inland port corporation’s new President and CEO, effective May 29, 2023.
According to CentrePort, Edmundson is a “tenacious and creative leader” with a background in transportation, commercial and industrial real estate, investment attraction and strategic communications. She has a deep understanding of the complex inland port project, having been previously employed by CentrePort from 2013-2019. Her extensive background in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and community-building, CentrePort adds, “positions her to lead the organization as it continues to build its reputation as a global leader in transportation and trade.”
Edmundson joins CentrePort from Cushman & Wakefield Stevenson where she served as Senior Vice President. Her previous experience also includes several industry-leading local companies, such as Price Industries, Wellington West and Winnipeg Airports Authority. She recently also completed a successful term as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Young Associates, part of the University of Manitoba Business School Foundation.
The inland port project, CentrePort says, is “in the midst of generating significant momentum.” The CentrePort Canada Rail Park, recently awarded up to $18 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund, is set to begin construction this spring.
Additionally, the lands known as CentrePort South in the City of Winnipeg portion of the inland port are poised for significant growth with $60 million in funding secured from multiple levels of government to initiate the first phase of servicing to transform these lands. This development, according to CentrePort, will generate more than 15,000 jobs at full build out.
“The Board is excited to welcome Carly back to CentrePort,” said Kevin Hooke, Chair, CentrePort Canada Board of Directors. “Her knowledge of the project, real estate and business attraction experience and solid background in strategic planning positions her to hit the ground running and capitalize on new opportunities for growth.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining CentrePort as it enters a new phase of growth,” said Edmundson. “CentrePort continues to be a force for economic development and prosperity in Manitoba. It was an honor to have been part of seeing that vision become a reality—and I am excited to be part of the next chapter, ensuring that CentrePort continues to generate opportunity for many years to come.”
Arup announced April 14 that Jon Cicconi has joined the firm as Principal to lead its new U.S. architecture practice based in New York.
Having already established a strong presence in Canada, Arup says its architecture practice will “expand the firm’s service offerings in the U.S. focusing on the rail, transit, and infrastructure markets, enhancing solutions for clients in sustainable design, diversifying the firm’s market portfolio and geographic offerings, and strengthening partnerships with other design collaborators.”
Cicconi joins Arup from Skidmore Owings & Merrill where he was a New York Design Studio Leader. He has decades of experience working on award-winning projects, including Moynihan Train Hall in Manhattan and Denver Union Station. A native of South Jersey, Jon holds a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
“I am honored to join Arup and further establish Arup’s incredible architecture and design capabilities in the U.S. market,” said Cicconi. “I believe interdisciplinary design has the potential to make architecture more powerful, impactful, and sustainable. Arup’s unparalleled capabilities in sustainable development, engineering, and strategy offer an incredible value proposition to create truly holistic, unique, and enduring work. I am excited to join this team and support Arup’s ongoing contributions to creating sustainable futures around the nation.”
Globally, Arup has deep expertise in architecture, delivering projects like the Cityringen Metro in Copenhagen, the HS2 Interchange Station in Solihull, UK, the Admiralty Station in Hong Kong, and the Metrolinx Finch West Light Rail Transit, a new 18-stop line now under construction in Northwest Toronto.
Alstom announced April 14 that CFO Laurent Martinez has decided to pursue his career outside the company, effective at the end of July.
Martinez, who has also served as a member Alstom’s Executive Committee since July 2018, will remain fully in charge until his departure. His successor, the company says, will be announced “in due time.”
Alstom thanks Martinez for his contribution to the company’s performance in the last five years.
