Published: September 21, 2026 Author: Matthew Thibault Source: Construction Dive / Enriched Corporate Reporting
Main Facts
Infrastructure consulting and construction giant AECOM has officially announced a pivotal leadership transition within its executive ranks. Manav Kumar, currently serving as the company’s global head of public affairs and global general counsel, has been named the incoming Chief Legal Officer (CLO). Kumar is set to officially step into his new role on October 3, 2026.
He will succeed long-serving executive David Gan, who has been a cornerstone of the company’s legal and governance operations for two decades. To ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities, Gan will initially transition into a senior advisor role before officially retiring from the firm in 2027.
This high-level succession highlights AECOM’s strategy of cultivating internal talent to navigate an increasingly complex global regulatory environment. Kumar, who joined AECOM nearly a decade ago, brings a diverse background blending municipal public policy, high-stakes international bidding, and corporate legal strategy. In his new capacity as CLO, Kumar will oversee AECOM’s global legal operations, risk management frameworks, compliance protocols, and public affairs, positioning the company to address emerging technological and regulatory frontiers.
Chronology of Leadership and Career Milestones
The executive pipeline leading to this transition reflects both Kumar’s rapid rise within the corporate sector and Gan’s enduring legacy at AECOM.
David Gan’s Two-Decade Tenure (2006 – 2027)
2006: David Gan joined AECOM as vice president and assistant general counsel, stepping into a firm poised for explosive global expansion.
Over the Next 20 Years: Gan steadily climbed the corporate ladder, shaping AECOM’s corporate governance framework, managing extensive risk portfolios, and building out a robust international legal organization capable of supporting massive infrastructure projects across multiple continents.
September 2026: AECOM formally announces Gan’s transition plan, shifting him to a senior advisor role effective October 3, 2026.
2027 (Projected): Gan is scheduled to officially retire from AECOM, concluding a distinguished 21-year tenure.
Manav Kumar’s Professional Evolution (Pre-2017 – Present)
Pre-2017 (Public Sector): Before entering the corporate arena, Kumar built a formidable reputation in municipal governance. He served as deputy counsel to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The Olympic Bid: Demonstrating high-level project management and diplomatic skill, Kumar served as the mayor’s chief Olympics officer, playing an instrumental role in Los Angeles’s successful, multi-year bid to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2017: Kumar transitioned from public service to the private sector, joining AECOM.
Post-2017 (Corporate Ascent): Within AECOM, Kumar diversified his portfolio by holding several key leadership positions. He served as the chief of staff for the office of the chairman and CEO, as well as deputy general counsel, before ascending to global head of public affairs and global general counsel.
October 3, 2026: Kumar officially assumes the role of Chief Legal Officer, stepping into the top legal spot as Gan prepares for retirement.
Supporting Data and Context
To understand the weight of this transition, one must examine the scale of AECOM as an enterprise and the specific pressures facing modern construction and engineering legal teams.
AECOM operates as a premier, fully integrated infrastructure firm, delivering professional services spanning transportation, buildings, water, government, energy, and environmental markets. Employing tens of thousands of professionals globally and operating in more than 150 countries, the firm routinely manages multibillion-dollar capital programs. Consequently, the Chief Legal Officer at AECOM does not merely manage routine corporate compliance; they act as a chief architect of risk mitigation across international jurisdictions with vastly differing labor laws, environmental regulations, and procurement standards.
Furthermore, the legal landscape of the engineering and construction sector has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Modern CLOs must navigate:
Supply Chain Volatility: Managing contractual protections against material shortages, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical disruptions.
Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): Structuring intricate financial agreements for massive public works.
Global Compliance: Adhering to rigorous anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and cross-border trade regulations.
Under Gan’s leadership, AECOM successfully fortified its legal and compliance architecture to weather several global economic downturns and industry-wide shifts. Kumar steps into the role with a well-established baseline of internal institutional knowledge, having worked closely alongside executive leadership for nearly ten years.
Official Responses and Executive Statements
The transition announcement was accompanied by high praise from AECOM’s top executive, alongside forward-looking statements from the incoming CLO regarding the future trajectory of the legal department.
Troy Rudd, AECOM’s Chief Executive Officer, underscored the profound impact Gan has had on the company’s institutional stability and growth over the past twenty years:
"Throughout his more than 20 years at AECOM, David has made important contributions to our company, helping strengthen our legal, governance and compliance capabilities while supporting many of our most significant business initiatives," Rudd stated in the official announcement.
Reflecting on his upcoming mandate, Manav Kumar emphasized that the modern legal department must act as an enabler of innovation rather than a mere barrier to risk. In an email statement to Construction Dive, Kumar outlined his vision for the department:
"As AECOM continues to grow and pursue new opportunities, it is important that we anticipate change, adapt to emerging threats and maintain a strong risk management framework that supports long-term success," Kumar said.
"The legal team’s role is to help the business navigate these developments with confidence while enabling innovation, growth, and strong outcomes for our clients and stakeholders."
Implications for AECOM’s Future
Kumar’s appointment signals several strategic directions for AECOM as the firm looks toward the late 2020s and beyond.
1. Integration of Advanced Technologies and AI
In his communications following the announcement, Kumar explicitly highlighted the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding digital technology trends, specifically pointing to artificial intelligence (AI) and data privacy issues. As engineering and design firms increasingly rely on automated modeling, proprietary algorithms, and cloud-based project management platforms, intellectual property protection and data security have become paramount. Kumar’s awareness of these digital frontiers suggests that AECOM’s legal department will proactively draft frameworks governing the ethical and legally sound deployment of AI across its global offices.
2. Regulatory Agility and Public Sector Fluency
Given Kumar’s extensive background in municipal government—highlighted by his tenure under Mayor Garcetti and his navigation of the complex regulatory web required for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic bid—he is uniquely equipped to handle public-sector clients. Because a significant portion of AECOM’s revenue relies on government contracts, transit authorities, and municipal infrastructure projects, having a CLO with deep public-affairs and public-sector credentials provides the firm with a distinct competitive advantage.
3. Smooth Continuity Amid Executive Turnover
Executive transitions at the C-suite level often introduce market uncertainty. However, by scheduling a multi-month transition period where David Gan remains on board as a senior advisor until his full retirement in 2027, AECOM has mitigated potential disruptions. This deliberate runway ensures that institutional memory, ongoing litigation strategies, and governance protocols are transferred seamlessly to Kumar’s leadership team.
As AECOM continues to spearhead major global infrastructure initiatives, the handoff from David Gan to Manav Kumar marks the end of an era defined by foundational institutional building, and the beginning of a new chapter focused on digital adaptation, technological innovation, and navigating the next generation of global engineering challenges.
