Cumming Corporation
| Industry | Construction Management, Consulting, Cost Estimating, Project Management |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Finlay Cumming |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | International |
Key people | Derek Hutchison (President, CEO) |
| Services | Program, Project and Construction Management Cost Management and Estimating |
Number of employees | 1,500+ staff worldwide (2022) |
| Website | cumming-group.com |
Cumming Group operates as a privately owned global firm specializing in project management and cost consulting within the construction industry. Its expertise spans sectors such as advanced manufacturing,[1] education,[2] healthcare, themed entertainment, and hospitality. In 2017, the company reported professional fees nearing $117 million derived from construction projects exceeding $4 billion in total value.[3]
The organization is officially registered under the name "Cumming Management Group, Inc." in California.
History
Established in 1996 by entrepreneur Finlay Cumming in Southern California, the firm’s initial significant engagement involved providing cost consulting services for the Paris Las Vegas resort in 1997.[4]
From 2002 through 2006, Cumming expanded its footprint across the United States by opening offices in Northern California, Colorado, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Georgia. By 2006, it had earned a place among Engineering News-Record’s Top 100 Construction Management-for-Fee firms nationally and has maintained a position within the top 40 since then.[5]
Incorporation as Cumming Corporation occurred in 2007. The following year, it acquired Construction Controls Group (CCG), a Los Angeles-based company. Initially operating as a separate division, CCG was eventually fully absorbed into the Cumming brand.[6]
Soon after, Cumming acquired Southern Management Group (SMG), a South Carolina-based company recognized for over twenty years of experience in program and project management.[7]
In 2008, Cumming initiated its international operations by establishing an office in Abu Dhabi,[8] appointing Alastair Burns as President and Hatham Al-Ani as managing director for the MENA region.[9] The company later opened its Dubai office in 2014.
The New York branch commenced operations in 2013, extending Cumming’s United States presence to twenty locations alongside its Middle East offices.[10]
Private equity firm Tailwind Capital acquired Cumming Group in 2016,[11] facilitating further expansion through acquisitions such as TowerEight.
British acquisitions, 2016–2021
Cumming broadened its footprint in the UK through significant acquisitions, including GB Fitzsimon in 2016, the building surveying firm Mellersh & Harding Building Consultancy (MHBC) towards the end of 2018, construction advisory firm Prosurv Consult in 2019, and TowerEight in February 2020.
Finlay Cumming, then CEO, had previous professional ties with GB Fitzsimon, established in 1989. MHBC, founded in 2007, had an existing client connection with Cumming prior to its acquisition. Following the merger, the combined organization operated under the name MHBC Cumming Group until 2021. Prosurv Consult, which originated in 2004 and is located in Stoke-on-Trent, remained an autonomous subsidiary of Cumming Europe Ltd after joining the group. TowerEight, a project management and cost consultancy headquartered in London since its founding in 2011 and expanded with a Manchester office by 2019, employed 59 individuals as of 2018. Will Smith, who had previous associations with both Cumming and JB Fitzsimon, was appointed UK and Europe CEO in February 2020.
In July 2021, James Morris, co-founder of TowerEight, took on the role of head of Cumming Group EMEA, managing a workforce totaling 120 employees. The British operations—Prosurv, MHBC Cumming Group, and TowerEight—were unified under the Cumming Group brand with London as their central office.
Further expanding its international reach, Cumming acquired Dublin’s Scollard Doyle in September 2021.
Changes 2018–2021
In 2018, Cumming combined its east coast activities with New York’s Lehrer LLC to form the "Cumming Lehrer" division. Peter Lehrer, the founder of Lehrer LLC, served as divisional CEO while Gavin Middleton and Derek Hutchison took on executive vice president roles. This integration resulted in a workforce of 700 employees spread over 31 locations.
January 2020 saw COO Mike Jensen retire; David Baird assumed the COO position while Derek Hutchison was elevated to president. Finlay Cumming continued as CEO during this period. By January 2021, Baird succeeded Cumming as CEO while Cumming transitioned to executive chairman as part of a planned leadership handover.
Between 2020 and 2021, Cumming strengthened its presence in the Pacific Northwest through acquisitions including PlanB Consulting (60 employees) based in Oregon and Inici Group. In December 2020, newly appointed COO Finlay McLay relocated to Seattle to work closely alongside CEO Baird. The company announced plans in March 2021 to move its headquarters to Seattle to better support its expanding operations in that region.
In November 2021, New Mountain Capital entered a growth investment partnership with Cumming Group. Tailwind Capital remained involved as shareholders and partners, continuing to back the company’s strategic expansion and ongoing growth initiatives.
Post-2021 growth
From 2022 through 2023, Cumming Group accelerated expansion via mergers and acquisitions. The Cardiff-based ChandlerKBS merged into Cumming in 2022, adding nine European offices to its portfolio. Other acquisitions included Nova Partners and RGM Kramer located in Northern California (both in 2022), along with Amicon Management in Florida (2023), broadening both geographical reach and service offerings.
Present
By the year 2020, Cumming Group maintained more than 30 offices internationally with a workforce exceeding 950 employees. Engineering News-Record (ENR) consistently ranks the firm among the top twenty construction management companies within the United States, highlighting its significant market position and industry prominence.
External links
- Related entries can be found on Wikidata for , ; , , , .
- ↑ "Cumming Group Merges with Semiconductor Advisory Firm". Construction Dive. April 16, 2025.
- ↑ "Cumming Awarded Cal State San Marcos". Union Tribune San Diego. March 20, 2013.
- ↑ "Cumming Corp's Work Builds with Recovery". San Diego Business Journal. May 6, 2013.
- ↑ Flight, Graham (September 27, 2021). "Not Your Parents' Las Vegas". Cumming. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
- ↑ "ENR's Top 100 Construction Management Firms Throughout the Years". Engineering-News Record. June 2012.
- ↑ Scott, Mark G (October 30, 2013). "Lisa Sachs wasn't afraid to give up a little control and partner with Cumming Corp. to build an even stronger business than the one she'd started". Smart Business.
- ↑ "Home". Southern Management Group.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedintldivision - ↑ Zanutto, Christa (2014-11-11). "Cumming Continues International Expansion with Opening of New Dubai Office".
- ↑ Zanutto, Christa (2013-10-25). "Locally Based Cumming Opens New York City Office".
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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