Acclaimed architectural firm shifts leadership amid sexual assault claims
The renowned architectural firm, Adjaye Associates, has announced a significant restructuring of its leadership in response to allegations of sexual assault against its founder David Adjaye.
The Ghanaian-British architect's once stellar career was marred by accusations of misconduct last year by three women, leading to a rather uncertain period for the company.
The three women alleged, amongst others that their interactions with Adjaye have significantly disrupted their careers, leading to precarious financial situations and causing them significant mental distress, Financial Times reported in 2023.
However, in light of these challenges, the firm has appointed Kofi Bio, Lucy Tilley, and Pascale Sablan as CEOs of its studios in Accra, London, and New York, respectively. David Adjaye will retain his role as principal architect and continue to guide the firm's design direction while assuming the position of executive chair, the company detailed in a statement addressing the changes.
Adjaye emphasized that the appointed CEOs would assume sole executive leadership responsibilities for their respective studios. He cited a six-month period of seeking professional advice that ultimately led to the decision to devolve the firm's executive management.
“Today’s announcement reflects a fundamental change in the way Adjaye Associates will now be run. Over the last six months, I have been taking professional advice on how to best reflect the firm’s considerable evolution over the last five years. Whilst I will continue to lead the design direction of my firm, it is now the right time to devolve the management of the studios. Kofi, Lucy, and Pascale are exceptional leaders whose diverse perspectives and capabilities will give us the platform to succeed in our next chapter.”
The move comes in the wake of allegations detailed in a Financial Times investigation last July, wherein three women who previously worked for Adjaye accused him of sexual abuse and misconduct. Adjaye has vehemently denied these claims, maintaining his innocence throughout the controversy.
Prior to the scandal, Adjaye Associates was acclaimed for their innovative architectural projects, including the National Museum of African American History in Washington DC and the National Cathedral of Ghana. However, the firm suffered setbacks following the allegations, losing out on several projects such as the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, U.K., and a campus for The Africa Institute in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
