Ongoing transformation process for future readiness

“The world needs solutions supporting a shift to a sustainable future. Today, COWI has a central place in the green transition but to keep this position and continue our growth we must invest more in our people and technology,” says Jens Højgaard Christoffersen, Group CEO at COWI. 
 
The above statement exemplifies the transformation process that COWI has embarked on. The expected outcome will be a streamlined operation increasing scalability and capacity, more innovation and digitalisation, and the aim is that all together, this will elevate profitability to a double digit EBITA-margin. 
 
COWI's order backlog is the highest ever, and in 2023 the company achieved a 9 % organic growth. So, the current streamlining of the company is not a consequence of financial difficulties. Instead, the ambition is to take advantage of COWI's healthy state and change some internal structures to become more relevant for customers and attractive to employees. The pursuit mandates substantial investment in developing our knowledge, innovative solutions, and the digital transformation of services and processes. This also extends to COWI's ‘licence to operate’, characterised by regulatory compliance and a commitment to acting on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) imperatives. 
 
An organisational redesign will reduce organisational complexity and align business more closely with COWI’s prioritised market sectors supporting professional development and excellence while being tailored to serve customers with complex challenges matching our strategic choices. While most employees will notice minimal disruption to their daily roles, some leadership positions are being recalibrated, and new roles are being introduced to align with the streamlined model. This realignment anticipates saving costs, particularly from leadership restructures and overhead optimisations. 
 
“I expect that after this transition, COWI will emerge even stronger and more relevant. We will be better positioned to grow further by helping customers deliver lasting impact that contributes to shaping a more sustainable future,” says Jens Højgaard Christoffersen, Group Chief Executive Officer.