Gensler Expands London Workplace Leadership With Three Senior Appointments

Adam Strudwick, Clare Bacchus (CB) and Elena Panagiotidis bring complementary expertise in workplace design, strategy and project delivery as Gensler responds to evolving demands in the London market.

LONDON – Gensler has appointed Adam Strudwick, Clare Bacchus (CB) and Elena Panagiotidis to strengthen its workplace business in London, bringing together expertise in workplace design, strategic advisory and project leadership and delivery. The appointments build on Gensler’s longstanding legacy in workplace design, which has been a cornerstone of its London office since it was established more than 30 years ago at the invitation of Goldman Sachs to support their regional design and corporate workspace needs.

Drawing on its global reach and decades of experience shaping workplaces in London and across Europe, Gensler is strengthening its London leadership to respond to the growing demands of the market, as organisations increasingly grapple with the future of work and the role of workplace design to attract and retain top talent, enhance performance and support business growth.

Athely Guedes, Managing Director, London at Gensler, said: “London is a global centre for business, talent and innovation, and workplace design has an important role to play in maintaining its competitive edge. Adam, CB and Elena bring complementary expertise that strengthens our ability to help clients navigate change and create workplaces that deliver meaningful value for their people and businesses.”

Together, the appointments bolster Gensler’s capabilities across the workplace design lifecycle, from defining the strategic vision and experience of a workplace to translating that vision into distinctive, high-performing environments. As organisations reassess how their workplaces support culture, productivity and growth, the combined expertise of these new leaders will help Gensler deliver more integrated, client-focused solutions.

Adam Strudwick joins Gensler as Workplace Market Leader, bringing extensive experience in architecture, interior design and leading workplace projects and teams. His experience spans strategy, design, delivery, business development and client leadership, with a particular commitment to advancing regenerative approaches to workplace design. He has led the delivery of corporate workplace projects for clients including Google, L&G, JLL, Citadel, Netflix and The Premier League. Prior to joining Gensler, he was a Principal at Perkins&Will, working with global organisations to deliver projects across the EMEA region.

Adam Strudwick, Workplace Market Leader at Gensler, said: “I’m excited to work with teams and clients to create environments that go beyond meeting functional needs, bringing together design, experience, performance and regenerative thinking to deliver lasting value for people, businesses and the planet.”

Clare Bacchus (CB) joins Gensler as Strategy Director, bringing experience in strategic advisory, experience design and organisational change. Having held client-side roles at Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Virgin Atlantic, she brings a strong understanding of the commercial and operational realities facing organisations. Her expertise spans experience proposition development, growth strategies and operating models, helping clients connect their business ambitions with the experiences they create for their people and customers.

CB, Strategy Director at Gensler, said: “The strongest workplace strategies connect business ambitions with the experiences of the people who bring them to life. I’m looking forward to working with clients to turn their strategic goals into workplaces that support transformation, strengthen culture and deliver value.”

Elena Panagiotidis joins Gensler’s London office as a Studio Director, co-leading a workplace studio of more than 40 people. An experienced project leader, she has delivered workplace projects for major financial and professional services clients including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, S&P, Skadden Arps and Fortress Investment Management. Her experience spans project and team leadership, and client management, with a focus on bringing together clients and project teams to deliver transformational workplaces.

Elena Panagiotidis, Studio Director at Gensler, said: “My focus is on building strong client partnerships, empowering our teams and maintaining design excellence from concept through delivery. I’m looking forward to leading our studio in creating workplaces that meet complex client needs and push the boundaries of design.”

London’s position as a global business destination is increasingly shaped by its ability to attract talent, investment and enterprise. As highlighted in Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast, the workplace is continuing to evolve, with organisations looking beyond traditional measures of space and efficiency to consider how design can support employee experience, productivity and business growth.

By strengthening its workplace leadership in London, Gensler brings together the strategic, creative and delivery expertise needed to help organisations respond to these changing expectations. The appointments reflect the firm’s continued investment in creating workplaces that connect people and business, contribute to stronger organisations and support London’s position as a leading global city.

About Gensler

At Gensler, the value of our work stems from its positive impact on the human experience. We are a dynamic and collaborative design firm uniting creativity, research, and innovation to solve complex problems for our clients. Our work challenges conventional ideas about architecture and the built environment. We aren’t just designing buildings — we are reimagining cities and places that make a difference in people’s lives. Founded in 1965, Gensler has built a team of 6,000 professionals who partner with clients in over 100 countries each year. Everything we do is guided by our mission: to create a better world through the power of design.