Our studio leaders are responsible for championing culture, fostering collaboration and ensuring each studio is well-positioned to deliver design excellence, client value and business growth within its local market. They also have strong client and market presence, building a personal profile as the leader in their local area and playing a pivotal role in winning and delivering major projects from their studio. A rotational position, the role creates opportunities for Principals to participate in studio leadership and ensures leaders can focus their expertise where it is most needed across our global practice. 

The appointments come at a significant time for us in North America as we deliver major projects across the region. The new studio leaders will play an important role in connecting local expertise with our global design, strategy and sector knowledge to support clients navigating a rapidly changing built environment. 

James Hickerson has been appointed New York Studio Leader, succeeding Matt Stephenson. Over the past 16 years, James has played a key role in enhancing our presence in New York, leading complex projects and advancing long-term client relationships across several sectors. Matt will continue as a Principal in our New York studio, with greater capacity to focus on design and project leadership, client relationships and strategic market development opportunities across our global studio network. 

Cara MacArthur has become our Los Angeles Studio Leader. A highly experienced interior design professional, she has strong expertise in workplace strategy and the evolving needs of the workplace, helping clients navigate changing expectations around employee experience, wellbeing and performance. Cara assumes the role at a pivotal time for our Los Angeles studio, which recently relocated within the iconic Bradbury Building, creating new opportunities for collaboration and engagement with the city’s design community. 

Sandra Ventura replaces Patrick Daly as our San Francisco Studio Leader. Since joining us in 2014, she has made significant contributions to our success through a blend of design expertise, technical proficiency and leadership skills. Recently, Sandra has focused on workplace interiors management and helping deliver large-scale aviation projects, including LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse South in Los Angeles and the SEA-TAC International Airport C1 Building Expansion in Seattle. The change will enable Pat to focus on his People and Culture leadership responsibilities and increase his ability to support projects and opportunities in Asia, where he has a strong track record of delivering tall tower and mixed-use schemes. 

“The rotational nature of our studio leader role is an essential aspect of how we nurture and encourage leadership and ensure our studios continue to evolve alongside the needs of our clients, people and communities,” comments our Chief Executive Officer Sarah Kay. “I welcome James, Cara and Sandra into these roles. With North America being one of our most important growth regions, they will play key roles in helping us connect global expertise with local market knowledge and deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients.” 

“At the same time, I would like to recognize and thank Matt and Pat for their exceptional leadership and commitment during their tenures as studio leaders,” adds Sarah. “Their leadership has strengthened our culture, client relationships and market presence and both will continue to play important roles in the practice’s future.” 

All three of the new studio leader positions commenced on 1 October 2026.  

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Lee Lodge
Insights & Communications Manager (Global)