Philippe Phaneuf

Philippe is Gensler’s Chief Operating Officer, where he plays a critical role in shaping the long-term business vision and strategy for the world’s leading design and architecture firm. As a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, he provides a unique, cross-disciplinary perspective that guides Gensler’s growth and innovation. Philippe joined the firm in 2016 as General Counsel and now serves as Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee and a member of the Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Philippe’s leadership centers on elevating Gensler’s global impact — from advancing the launch of new practice areas and markets, to forging strategic partnerships that extend the breadth of the firm’s impact and practice. Operating at the intersection of design and business, Philippe is focused on fostering and enhancing the firm’s creative and entrepreneurial culture at scale.

Prior to joining Gensler, Philippe was a partner at Dechert where he provided strategic counsel to Fortune 100 companies, private equity firms, and multinational corporations. He brings this experience to Gensler, leveraging his deep understanding of our clients and their businesses to identify untapped opportunities for design to effect meaningful, lasting change.

Philippe is a graduate of Harvard College (A.B.), attended Berkeley Law, and the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto (J.D.). He resides in Los Angeles with his husband and two young children.