Roth appointed chief development officer at WSP USA

New York, NY Denise Turner Roth, former administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), has been appointed chief development officer of WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy.

In her new role, Roth will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the firm’s strategy and long-range planning in the U.S. She will work with the CEO and senior managers to lead innovation and support strategic growth. 

WSP has more than 7,000 employees in 100 offices across the U.S. 

“Denise’s extensive experience in technology transformation, public-private partnerships, building services and economic development are a great asset to our firm. She is a dynamic addition to our team,” said Gregory A. Kelly, president and chief executive officer of WSP USA.

Most recently Ms. Roth served as a senior advisor to WSP’s US advisory services team, working with its senior consultants to serve public and private sector clients on buildings, transportation and energy projects.

During her career, Ms. Roth has also held various leadership positions at the federal and local government levels. She served as administrator for the GSA from March 2015 to January 2017, leading a workforce of 12,000 full-time employees with responsibility for a $27 billion budget that supported the agency’s public buildings service, federal acquisition service and technology services programs.

Prior to joining GSA, Roth served as city manager for Greensboro, North Carolina, where she reorganized city departments and divisions to promote efficiency and improve service delivery. She was also instrumental in launching public/private initiatives that created more than $75 million in city enhancements. She also served as vice president for governmental affairs at the Greensboro Partnership where she successfully secured $60 million in state funds to establish the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, an academic collaboration of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

Roth earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from George Mason University, which also awarded her an honorary doctorate of letters in recognition of her distinguished public service. She was recently appointed as a fellow to the National Academy of Public Administration.