WSP tops list of fastest-growing firms in North American sector

WSP Group USA has been ranked number one on the ZweigWhite list of fastest-growing engineering, environmental and architecture firms for 2008. The annual list of 200 "hot firms" compiled by the management consulting and research specialist features design and environmental businesses with North American operations that have outperformed the economy and competitors to become industry leaders.

Rankings are based on a weighted average of each firm's dollar growth and percentage growth from 2004 to 2007. WSP Group USA's revenues more than quadrupled during the period, from US$46.1 million to over US$197 million.

In June 2000, the London-headquartered WSP Group kicked off an aggressive growth programme in North America with the acquisition of the internationally renowned Cantor Seinuk Group, a leading structural engineering firm. Just two weeks later, WSP acquired Flack + Kurtz Consulting Engineers, a global leader in mechanical and electrical engineering and an energy conservation/sustainability pioneer in the built environment.

The group's environmental consultancy began to make serious waves in the North American market in 2006 when WSP Environment and Energy merged its US operations with Reston, Virginia-based Environmental Strategies Consulting (ESC). The most recent addition to the group is Chas H Sells, a transportation and infrastucture specialist based on the east coast of the States, acquired in 2007. WSP Group USA now has four main operating units: WSP Flack + Kurtz, WSP Cantor Seinuk, WSP Sells and WSP Environment and Energy. The parent WSP Group plc employs a total of 10,000 staff in over 100 global locations.

"To be recognized as North America's top 'hot firm' is a fantastic tribute to the talent and commitment of our consultants delivering building, civil engineering and environmental projects in the USA," said WSP Group CEO Chris Cole. "This achievement more than justifies the important step we took in 2008 in completing the rebranding of our US businesses to include the WSP name."

The only other European firm to make the ZweigWhite top ten this year was Arcadis US Inc, which ranked third on the list, having grown its sales from US$332.6 million in 2004 to US$916.9 million in 2007.

• WSP news release
• ZweigWhite news release