SmithGroupJJR Names New Leadership Team

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DETROIT — Michael L. Medici, Russell P. Sykes, and Troy D. Thompson have been named managing partners for SmithGroupJJR, an architecture, engineering, and planning firm with offices around the world, including Detroit.

The three promotions represent an internal succession process started six years ago, and marks the continued evolution of the culture and organization of the oldest architecture-engineering firm in the U.S. In their newly defined roles, they will succeed President and CEO Carl D. Roehling,and COO Randal E. Swiech. Roehling and Swiech will continue to practice with the firm and remain on its board.

Medici, president and managing partner, will lead eight practices and firm-wide marketing functions. He will oversee the strategic growth of the practices, each of which is centered on key client markets. He is the corporate learning practice leader and previously served as the director of the firm’s Phoenix and Dallas offices.

Sykes, of Royal Oak and managing partner, will lead the 10 offices of the firm with a focus on improving the quality and efficiency of the firm’s project delivery processes. He was instrumental in championing the development of the Shanghai office in 2013 and will continue to shepherd the firm’s China expansion. His role as the science and technology studio leader in the Detroit office will be filled by Nick Salowich.

Thompson, managing partner, will lead the firm’s initiatives in talent development, research, knowledge management, and innovative planning/design tools and processes. An historic preservation specialist by practice, Thompson is also the director of operations for the Washington, D.C. office and will be succeeded by Steven Cohen, AIA.

The positions are effective May 18, upon their election by the board of directors.