Bentley Systems, the global infrastructure engineering software giant, has announced that Greg Bentley will transition from CEO to executive chair of its board of directors from 1 July.
The company, which is marking its 40th anniversary, said current COO Nicholas Cumins will become chief executive and is proposed to join the board.
Greg Bentley, the oldest of five brothers who founded Bentley Systems, has been CEO since 1995.
Cumins has been Bentley COO since January 2022, having previously served as chief product office since September 2020, prior to the company’s IPO.
He has also worked as general manager of SAP Marketing Cloud, chief product officer of online voting platform Scytl and senior vice-president of product with OpenX, a pioneer in programmatic advertising.
Advancing global infrastructure
Greg Bentley said: “I am very pleased to be able to retire from CEO responsibilities this year (at age 69) with such confidence that this completion of our extended succession process now leaves Bentley Systems demonstrably able to increase its potential, while safeguarding its established performance. Under Nicholas Cumins as COO since January 2022 (and chief product officer previously), both our ARR growth and operating margins have consistently improved to the highest levels in our just-now 40-year history.
“Most significantly, our board determined Nicholas to be the ideal CEO for our future by virtue of the continuity he respects and personifies in our ‘family values’ of dedication to the success of our colleagues and thence the success of our users and accounts. Equally, I am personally excited by the resolve and zeal of Nicholas and this next generation of leaders for technical and commercial innovation within our sustained mission.”
Nicholas Cumins said, “This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Bentley Systems, at its essence a company of engineers for engineers. Remarkably, the company has been founder- and family-led throughout those four decades. Greg has presided over an extraordinary legacy of long-term growth, sustained innovation and value creation inspired by a commitment to advancing the world’s infrastructure for better quality of life.”
