Arup has appointed new East Asia leadership, reaffirming its dedication to shaping a digitally-enabled sustainable future for the region.

Andy Lee has been named East Asia region chair. He served as the region’s COO for the past six years, successfully leading a team of 3,400 professionals across 15 offices to achieve strong performance and smooth operation during an exceptionally challenging time.

A recognised facade expert, Mr Lee has spearheaded the delivery of innovative solutions on numerous high-profile projects throughout the region. In recent years, he has been actively driving innovations and digital development, with the incubation and commercialisation of the AI-powered smart building console Neuron being one of the notable masterpieces. The cutting-edge platform leverages data and digital capabilities to decarbonise building assets and facilitate net-zero transition.

Mr Lee also serves on Arup’s group board, providing insights and connections at the global level, enabling Arup to deliver leading solutions for clients as a truly global firm.

"As East Asia is home to some of the world’s most vulnerable cities to climate change impacts, Arup is committed to expanding our capabilities to push for more sustainable outcomes in all our work. We will harness digital solutions to provide insights on where to start and how to progress towards a more sustainable future for the region," said Mr Lee.

Meanwhile, James Sze has been named region COO, bringing over 28 years of experience of design and delivery of complex infrastructure projects across the region. A geotechnical engineer by training, he is highly regarded in the field for providing innovative solutions, such as the design of a piled raft foundation for the 555-m-high Lotte World Tower addressing the challenges of shattered ground conditions through advanced computational analysis.

Mr Sze’s expertise and portfolio diversified over the years, with recent projects including a mega-scale planning and engineering study for the Hong Kong government. The project aims to create an exemplar future city embracing carbon neutrality and resilience.

Former chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong, Mr Sze currently serves on various government, professional and university committees, where he influences policymaking and industry practice to advance sustainable development and betterment of the consulting sector. Mr Sze will work alongside Mr Lee to drive sustainable development in the region.