Nicholas Cumins is the new CEO of Bentley Systems. At the beginning of July, he took over the helm from Greg Bentley, one of the five brothers who founded the company. Greg Bentley will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
First CEO in the company's history who is not a member of the Bentley family
Cumins is the first CEO in the company's 40-year history who is not a member of the Bentley family. The Bentley brothers redefined computer-aided design (CAD) software at the time when they developed MicroStation as a groundbreaking platform for engineering applications. Four decades of innovation and more than 120 acquisitions later, Bentley Systems is a global provider of infrastructure engineering software. The company's digital twin solutions for infrastructure are used to design, build and operate critical infrastructure around the world.
The change to Cumins at the head of the company comes at a critical time for the infrastructure sector, according to a press release. There are not enough engineers to handle the work needed to meet global sustainability goals while adapting aging infrastructure to the effects of climate change.
Bentley aims to improve infrastructure resilience
Cumins presented Bentley's vision for infrastructure resilience, pointing out that engineering firms and asset owners and operators are turning to software to address the skills shortage.
"Infrastructure is at a tipping point. Despite the massive investment in infrastructure projects and jobs following the pandemic, there is still so much to do to make infrastructure more resilient. Our ability to close this gap will literally determine the quality of life for generations to come. Fortunately, there is a paradigm shift underway in software that is reshaping the landscape. AI-powered digital twin solutions are unlocking the value of data across the entire infrastructure lifecycle."
For example, Bentley's AI solutions are already transforming the way organisations monitor the condition of roads, bridges, dams, water networks and telecoms towers.
"Every owner and operator around the world is looking for an easier and more effective way to understand the health of their assets. Imagine the possibilities that AI offers to improve asset performance and make infrastructure more resilient. This is the moment for our generation to apply their ingenuity and build on the legacy of innovation to advance the world's infrastructure for a better quality of life."
Nicholas Cumins was previously COO of the company
Prior to his promotion to CEO, Cumins had served as COO of Bentley Systems since January 2022. He joined Bentley Systems as Chief Product Officer in September 2020, prior to the company's IPO. Prior to that, he was General Manager of SAP Marketing Cloud and worked as Chief Product Officer at Scytl, a platform for electronic voting systems and technologies, and as Senior Vice President of Product at OpenX, a pioneer in programmatic advertising. Before joining OpenX, he held various senior positions at SAP, including product management, corporate strategy and business development. Cumins holds French and US citizenship and lives in France.
Further information can be found at www.bentley.com.
