David Whysall
Chief Operating Officer
I’m passionate about Turner & Townsend’s opportunity to redefine an industry, ensuring it’s fit to deliver on our society’s defining moments – energy and digital transformation, productivity and inclusion that benefits all.
As Chief Operating Officer, David is responsible for managing Turner & Townsend’s global platform, overseeing transformation, strategic growth driven through our segments and risk management. As part of his role, David oversees the solutions we build for our clients, ensuring they can access the industry’s leading talent, alongside technology, knowledge and data, to deliver their impactful major projects and portfolios.
David spent a couple of years working within the UK supply chain for a major contractor before joining Turner & Townsend as a graduate in 2004. The majority of his time was spent within the infrastructure sector where he was Managing Director, Infrastructure, UK between 2018 and 2023.
In 2023, he took the role as Global Managing Director of the Energy and Natural Resources business and joined the Executive Committee in 2024.
Career highlights
- Appointed Chief Operating Officer
2026 - Appointed Global Managing Director of Energy and Natural Resources, and appointed to Operations Board
2023 - Appointed Managing Director, Infrastructure, UK
2018 - Worked on Heathrow Terminal 5
2005 - Joined Turner & Townsend
2004
Q. What attracted you to join Turner & Townsend?
A. Its aspiration. When I joined in 2004, we were a much smaller business but with big aspirations to be the best at what we do. While we’ve expanded greatly since then, we continue to retain the things that have made us successful: a focus on excellence, development of diverse talent and passion to solve our clients’ biggest challenges.
Q. Which project are you most proud of being involved in at Turner & Townsend?
A. Heathrow Terminal 5. To this day I still see it as the most successful delivery model used for a major programme. It put collaboration at the heart of its strategy and stretched talent such that the outcome delivered was amazing. It’s left an incredible legacy for our industry, as well as in the asset that was created. It’s the project I still point out to my children!
Q. How do you see the business developing over the next five years?
A. As our business grows, we’ll continue work with our global clients to build their capability, unlock market capacity and create the environment for delivering high performing projects and portfolios. Our investment in our global platform means we’re well placed to support our clients successfully deliver anywhere around the world.
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