Adjaye Associates appoints CEOs to lead studio in its "next chapter"

Architecture studio Adjaye Associates has announced a new leadership structure, eight months after the studio lost numerous projects in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against its founder.

The studio named Kofi Bio, Lucy Tilley, and Pascale Sablan as CEOs of its Accra, London, and New York studios, with founder David Adjaye becoming executive chair of the group.

"Each will have sole executive leadership of the studios, in charge of all operations, whilst continuing to lead projects and business development," Adjaye Associates said.

David Adjaye will continue leading studio's "design direction"

Adjaye will remain as Adjaye Associates' principal architect and will "continue to lead Adjaye Associates' design direction".

The architect said the change in management was the result of "professional advice" over the past six months and that the time was right to devolve the studio's management.

"Today's announcement reflects a fundamental change in the way Adjaye Associates will now be run," he said. "Over the last six months I have been taking professional advice on how to best reflect the firm's considerable evolution over the last five years."

"Whilst I will continue to lead the design direction of my firm, it is now the right time to devolve the management of the studios," he continued.

"Kofi, Lucy, and Pascale are exceptional leaders whose diverse perspectives and capabilities will give us the platform to succeed in our next chapter.”

Reshuffle follows sexual assault allegations

Adjaye was accused of sexual assault and harassment by three former employees in 2023, with allegations detailed in British newspaper the Financial Times. He denies the allegations.

"I absolutely reject any claims of sexual misconduct, abuse or criminal wrongdoing," Adjaye told the FT. "These allegations are untrue, distressing for me and my family and run counter to everything I stand for."

In the fallout from the allegations, multiple projects by the studio have been cancelled, including a campus for The Africa Institute and Adjaye's design for the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.

The photo is by Ed Reeve.

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