Randy Howder and Hao Ko Appointed Co-Managing Directors of Gensler San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (October 13, 2017) — Gensler, the global design firm, announced today that Randy Howder and Hao Ko, both longtime design and studio leaders within the firm, will now join the Northwest Leadership Team as Co-Managing Directors of the San Francisco office. Randy and Hao will bring their passion for design and service excellence to clients and the professional development of the staff while playing a key role in the continued growth of the firm.

As an influential leader in the Technology practice area and the driving force behind such projects as Facebook, Instagram, and the new global headquarters for Hyatt Hotels, Randy has a fundamental understanding of how today’s workplace needs to support and shape the overall employee experience. He recognizes what people value most in their workplace and the importance of supporting individual and collaborative work. Randy will bring this expertise to his new leadership role with a sharp focus on purpose, choice, and performance. He will continue to be a frequent resource for the media with articles on design and workplace strategy for today’s leading companies.

Hao’s leadership style carries with it a design-first, people-centric approach. He is passionate about maintaining the highest standards for intellectual rigor, technical excellence, and high-performance thinking. Hao’s projects, such as the Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, the Nvidia Headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and the new Mercedes-Benz Headquarters in Atlanta, have elevated the firm’s national and international profile and are well known for their high level of innovation and quality. Experienced in working with diverse and talented teams, it will be a natural transition for Hao to bring this level of excellence and awareness to his role as Co-Managing Director, providing opportunities for mentorship and growth. Hao is a forward-looking leader who will continue to build Gensler’s San Francisco office with respect for tradition but with a creative vision for the future.

As the founding office of Gensler, the San Francisco headquarters holds a special place in the history and legacy of the firm. Their portfolio of high-performance environments and creative immersive experiences serves as an inspiration for the successful intersection of live, work, and play. Acknowledging the unique, entrepreneurial qualities of the Bay Area, Hao and Randy are committed to investing in people, technology, and research to explore and push the possibilities of design. They share a common vision to have a positive and lasting impact on the Gensler San Francisco office and the firm.

About Gensler

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 53 locations and more than 7,000 professionals networked across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Founded in 1965, the firm works globally with more than 4,000 clients across 33 practice areas spanning the work, lifestyle, cities, and health sectors. We are guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design, and the source of our strength is our people. By leveraging our diversity of ideas, our research and innovation, our shared values, and our One-Firm Firm culture, we are working seamlessly as a borderless firm in 140 countries and making the greatest impact on our communities as we continue to tackle the world’s challenges.

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