BKS joins AECOM

As of 1 November 2012, BKS will be rebranded as AECOM, having announced  31 October 2012 that it has joined AECOM. The conclusion of the merger is pursuant to having received merger approval from the Competition Commission on 9 October 2012, and to fulfilling all other requirements of deal closure with AECOM Technology Corporation. “This is not a flippant decision joining the global game and we will remain a market leader in the new and fast-tracked South African market,” said Danai Magugumela, Managing Director of AECOM SA, adding that change is a constant in the local context, not only politically but also with reagrds to best practice in the engineering sphere. “Any good business needs to stay in the growth phase.”

AECOM is a leading provider of technical and management engineering and consulting services for public and private clients in more than 130 countries around the world. For BKS, the move to become more globalised follows a proud and strong history of operating as a South African multidisciplinary engineering firm with international reach in Africa and the Middle East. BKS has provided consulting engineering services in the areas of buildings, stadia, transportation, and water and sanitation for public-and private-sector clients. “BKS’s experience with providing services in the transportation, water, environment, energy, building engineering, project management and mining markets will bolster AECOM’s ability to meet client needs throughout Africa”, said AECOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John M. Dionisio.

Photo: AECOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John M. Dionisio

Magugumela adds that “the growth and expansion possibilities will accelerate BKS’s own Vision 2030, which culminated in a recent reorganisation of BKS into five multinational operating regions across the African continent, with Pretoria continuing to serve as headquarters for all operations within South Africa and within the rest of Africa”.

Photo: Danai Magugumela, Managing Director of AECOM SA

AECOM initially entered the South African market with the acquisition of Davis Langdon in 2010, and according to a statement released by the organisation, “access to AECOM expertise globally, combined with Davis Langdon capabilities in quantity surveying that have been long-established in South Africa, will bring augmented value to our existing clientele. At the same time as adding value for clients, it is exciting that this merger will expand career-development opportunities for our employees.”

African expansion key

Chief Executive of AECOM Africa, Indresen Pillay, stated that the organisation had identified the African continent as rich with opportunity to provide sustainable growth for the organisation and the continent both, with the engineering platform provided by BKS being the best way to move towards accessing this opportunity. “What we have created is the best of two really exceptional business,” said Pillay, adding that with the former Davis Langdon experience in the organisation AECOM would be “adding a new dimension of financial accountability to projects.”

Photo: Chief Executive of AECOM Africa, Indresen Pillay

AECOM will be setting up “hubs of excellence” across in Eastern & Western Africa, with Kenya being considered the most viable option for the former as BKS already has an established office in the country.

“With a focus on end markets such as rail, ports, energy as well as buildings and sports facilities, and our regard for doing business with integrity, AECOM is a preferred partner to both the public and private sector client,” concluded Pillay. He is confident and excited that AECOM’s permanent establishment in Africa, and more recently in South Africa, positions the firm to serve a wider range of end markets than before.