Whitney Knuf Ahn

Currently, I lead the Nashville Cost Centre and serve as the North American Retail Lead. I’ve been focused on programme management for global retail client Nissan since joining Turner & Townsend, managing their brand identity. We and the client truly see each other as partners, working together to identify and achieve business objectives. My focus is supporting our teams on our journey to achieve great outcomes for our clients both in the short and long term.

I worked for a general contractor and an architecture firm prior to my role at Turner & Townsend. I am a licensed architect with an educational background in architecture and construction management.

Q. How has your career at Turner and Townsend developed?

A. I started as a regional construction consultant on the Nissan commission. Over the course of my time at Turner & Townsend, I have held various roles within this retail business commission, including Programme Management Office (PMO) Lead for both INFINITI and Nissan and Regional Key Client Lead. Currently, I lead the Nashville Cost Centre and serve as the NAM Retail Lead.

Q. How do you contribute to Turner & Townsend making a difference?

A. Each deliverable deserves a high level of care and quality. I am committed to performing due diligence on the smaller, day-to-day items so that we can continue to be trusted with the larger items.

Q. Detail any specialist skills or experience for which you are known

A. I am a licenced architect, and with my background in both architecture and construction management, I have found that one of my strengths is being able to understand the perspective of other trades in the industry. This is helpful when we are trying to achieve ambitious goals as a wider project team.

Based upon internships during my undergraduate years, I knew I didn’t want to formally practice architecture for my entire career, but I recognised the value and importance of achieving licensure. As a result, I opted to pursue a dual master’s degree in architecture and construction management, allowing me to obtain my architectural license while also broadening my understanding of the construction industry.

After graduating from college, I began my path to obtain my architectural license by working at a traditional architecture firm. A few years later, I took an opportunity with a general contractor so I could expand my knowledge of the built environment. Throughout both of these roles, I continued to track my hours of experience and worked towards taking exams. After I joined our business, Turner & Townsend supported me while I completed my final exams and received my licence.

Q. What is the emerging trend in your industry specialism and how are you responding to this?

A. Technology is having a significant impact on retail businesses. The industry is watching closely to see how the adoption of new technologies will affect brick and mortar retail facilities in the coming years.

The omnichannel approach to retail, where the online journey intersects seamlessly with the in-person experience, is the most effective way for brands to engage with their consumers. Our team is dedicated to researching what this means for our retail clients and their project planning and advising them on how to best plan for the future.