Pivot Points podcast
Accidental CEO, global leader: The Arcadis leadership transition with Alan Brookes
Episode 49
Episode overview
Alan Brookes looks back on the experiences and mentors that shaped his path to CEO of Arcadis, from learning to build client relationships to leading a global business. Dave and Alan explore the human side of leadership, thoughtful succession planning and how major projects can contribute to a more sustainable future.
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Build a team of people who threaten you. People who you think, ‘They can do my job. They’re better than me’. That’s the team you want around you.
Alan Brookes Former Global CEO, Arcadis
Rising through the ranks to become the Global CEO of a massive enterprise, Alan Brookes understands that leading at scale isn’t about possessing every technical answer in the room.
Instead, it’s the chemistry of human connection. It’s what you give to your connections as people, rather than merely collaborators.
The team at Arcadis is over 37,000 strong, and this week the former CEO shares the principles that made him such a revered leader among a team that challenged him, all by design.
What’s clear from this conversation is that all roads lead back to your people and your culture. And there’s no better guide on how to centre yourself around open and honest leadership than Alan.
When I set out as CEO, I said my strategy is going to be to accelerate a planet-positive future.
Alan Brookes Former Global CEO, Arcadis
You will learn:
- How early hands-on experience can prepare you for challenges beyond.
- Why strong client relationships are built through genuine human connection.
- How to build a team around complementary skills and honest self-awareness.
- Why succession planning works best when it starts early and includes a thoughtful handover.
Chemistry is a key thing, you can’t do everything over Teams or Zoom or things like that because you haven’t got the genuine interaction, and people like to work with people that they like.
Alan Brookes Former Global CEO, Arcadis
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