BDG appoints principal director

Toby Neilson has been appointed principal director of BDG, Landor’s specialist architecture and spatial design agency.

Toby, who will lead the practice with immediate effect, has led the global programme of campus projects for WPP for the last six years, transforming spaces into vibrant, contemporary workspaces, such as a derelict telephone exchange in Madrid, a ceramics factory in Milan, and the iconic Rivierstaete building, in Amsterdam. 

His work on London’s Southbank includes notable projects including Sea Containers, Rose Court, and One Southwark Bridge.

And his experience leading the architecture team ranges from private residential to large-scale masterplans, always with a focus on economic viability, social impact, and sustainable design.

Toby’s appointment is part of a strategic alignment across Landor globally, connecting BDG’s core architecture and spatial team with wider brand-building expertise in retail, culture, brand and digital experience, events and activation to create modern, future-facing design solutions.

Reporting to Liz Wilson, Landor’s chief integration officer, Toby brings more than a decade’s leadership experience at BDG, a global perspective shaped by his time in the UK, Spain, and Brazil and a track record of leading landmark international projects, and as such is uniquely positioned to lead BDG into its next chapter.

Liz said: “As we scale and integrate Landor’s specialist capabilities, Toby has shown he can lead a more expansive BDG, drawing on Landor’s global depth of spatial and experiential talent to deliver against our clients’ changing ambitions. 

“He steps up at an inflection point in the market, where after many years of focus on digital transformation and digital channels, we’re seeing renewed client focus and energy on maximising the brand and cultural opportunities of physical spaces and in person experience.”

Toby added: “BDG has always stood out for its ability to reimagine space with intelligence, creativity, and purpose. We’re focused on delivering architecture and design that’s not only high-performing and sustainable, but also deeply aligned with the identity and ambitions of the organisations we work with. 

“I’m looking forward to building on that legacy and continuing to shape spaces and places that make a meaningful impact.”

Based in London, New York and Sao Paulo, BDG are an architecture and design agency, who specialise in building repositioning and workplace design, providing specialist strategic consultancy and architectural services to building owners and occupiers through building selection, due diligence, utilisation and briefing, which underpins what they design and deliver, to ensure high performing buildings and spaces that surpass expectation.

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