Brice moves from Walk Wheel Cycle Trust to SLR

Xavier Brice has left Walk Wheel Cycle Trust after 10 years as Chief Executive. He has moved to the consultancy SLR as Director of Planning & Sustainable Infrastructure for EMEA (Europe, Middle-east & Africa).

Brice joined Walk Wheel Cycle Trust in 2016 when it was known as Sustrans. The charity is the custodian of the National Cycle Network (NCN), and over the past decade has delivered more than 500 miles of new and improved routes. The Trust also launched the Walking and Cycling Index and supported walking, scooting and cycling journeys through the annual Big Walk and Wheel challenge.

Brice oversaw the rebranding of the charity after a year of research, focus groups and testing.

Over the past 18 months the charity has made 20% of its workforce redundant, including a “restructure” at senior level, due to a drop in funding.

Brice said: “Ten years is long enough for any organisation to be led by the same person. The charity so closely aligns to what matters to me that it would be tempting to stay forever! But I don’t think that’s healthy - for the charity or for me. 

“We all have blind spots and weaknesses and so it’s good to refresh leadership. And after 10 years I am also ready for a new challenge. Having recently rebranded it’s also a good juncture for a new CEO to be associated with the new brand and new strategy.”

SLR is a  global environmental and advisory consultancy, with a team of over 5,000 professionals operating from a network of offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. 

Brice told LTT: “In recent years I’ve become more interested in how we ensure that our places and infrastructure are resilient enough to cope with the uncertainty that lies ahead of us - and fundamentally, I think that’s what sustainability is. 

“So, it’s about balancing short-term pressures with long-term considerations. It’s about ensuring that existing and new assets can cope with future pressures, from the inevitability and volatility of climate change, to the impact of demographic and technological change. 

“And critically, ensuring that our places and networks can help people come together - something which is more important than ever.”