Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> July 14, 2003
EDWARD C. FRIEDRICHS is President and Chief Executive Officer of
Gensler, one of the most successful and influential design firms in the
US. Mr. Friedrichs oversees the firm's business operations, as well as
strategic development efforts through Gensler offices around the world.
As President and CEO, he helps transform Gensler offices into a seamless
platform for global delivery. He co-created the firm's new management
structure, an Executive Council comprised of the next generation of
leadership. Mr. Friedrichs joined Gensler in San Francisco in 1969. He
opened the firm's Los Angeles office in 1976, which established the
firm's successful practice areas in entertainment, transportation and
planning. In 1995, he was appointed President and, in 2000, Chief
Executive Officer of the firm. Within Gensler, Mr. Friedrichs motivates
by example rather than by precept. He applies core architectural skills
to an ever-widening range of practice areas including entertainment,
transportation, planning and strategic consulting. He adheres to an ego-
neutral approach and promotes partnering among all team members. A
highly sought after speaker, he educates audiences inside and outside
Gensler on the value of design to business and on current business
practice. Mr. Friedrichs is well respected for his leadership and
contributions to the design industry. He serves on the Large Firm
Roundtables for both the American Institute of Architects and the
International Interior Design Association. He participates on the
Advisory Council of the College of Environmental Design at the
University of California, Berkeley, and also the Board of Overseers of
the Graduate School of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. In
the community, he is a committed leader of the Boy Scouts of America and
serves on the Executive Board of the San Francisco Bay Area Council. Profile
overview of the services you offer?
Mr. Friedrichs: Gensler was founded in 1965 in San Francisco as an
architectural firm.
