US tech leader appointed as Lendlease CEO Digital

General Electric (GE) Digital’s Chief Executive Officer will join Lendlease in the new year as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Digital.

William Ruh has been appointed to the newly created position and will lead Lendlease’s digital business platform.

His role will include accelerating the digital transformation of the company’s businesses and projects with data, advanced analytics and new technologies to drive automation and improve the company’s smart cities strategy.

Mr Ruh’s helped GE to transform the company into a digital industrial company, delivery a 2.5 per cent increase in revenue from digital products and improve productivity through digital programs.

He has also developed successful programs in analytics, AI and data that are the subject of two Harvard Business School case studies.

Prior to his role at GE, Bill was instrumental in the strategy and growth of the Cisco Services business.

Mr Ruh will relocate to Sydney from San Ramon, California.

Lendlease Group CEO and Managing Director Steve McCann said he is delighted to welcome Mr Ruh to Lendlease.

“Taking a digitally-led approach at Lendlease means being able to deliver our current $71 billion pipeline in a safer, faster and more productive manner, through to creating new revenue streams and services our customers value,” he said.

“We’re uniquely placed to take a leadership position in the digital space in our sector.

“Our ability to attract a senior executive of Bill’s stature is a strong endorsement of Lendlease’s leading position in urbanisation, and the associated technology and digital opportunities ahead of us,” Mr McCann said.