John Alexander

John Alexander is the current Chairman at PA Consulting and was previously with HKA. John has also worked with ERM: Environmental Resources Management where they were the Chairman/CEO. John has lived in Australia, Belgium, the UK and the Middle East and has worked on projects worldwide.

John Alexander was appointed Chairman of ERM in 2017 having previously served as CEO from 2008. ERM is the world’s leading Environmental and Sustainability Consulting firm. As part of their role, John led ERM through 2 MBOs securing investment from 2 new PE investors; Charterhouse in 2011, and; Omers PE together with AIMCo in 2015, when the company was valued at US$1.7 billion. These investments secured exits for the previous investors, including Bridgepoint, and were made alongside ERM Partners who retain some 40% equity in the company.

To support the growth strategy, which included 10 acquisitions ranging in value from around $5 to $90Mn, John also secured new credit ratings from S&P/Moody's and raised a $900Mn debt package. In 2017, John took-on the role of Chairman of HKA, the world's leading provider of claims management consulting/expert evidence for delay and quantum claims on major capital projects. In 2018, John also took-on the role of Chairman of PA Consulting, the leading innovation and technology consulting firm.

PA operates a Partnership model and was acquired by the current Partners and The Carlyle Group in an MBO in December 2015. John stepped down from their role at ERM in 2019 having managed a smooth transition to their CEO successor.

John Alexander has a degree in geophysics from the University of Liverpool, an MSc in hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham, and a certification from the Royal Geographical Society. John also attended the Senior Executive Corporate Finance Course at the University of Oxford and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.