Gardiner & Theobald strengthens UK and Ireland capability through a strategic investment in WH Stephens
Gardiner & Theobald (G&T) has acquired a significant interest in WH Stephens Limited (WHS), providing a strong platform for growth in Ireland.
The transaction was supported by Hennick & Company (HennickCo), a private investment firm and long-term partner to G&T and to several of the world’s leading consulting and advisory firms.
This marks an important step for both firms as they look to expand their presence and capability across a range of sectors in the UK and Ireland. Belfast-headquartered WHS operates in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with a strong portfolio spanning health, education, commercial, leisure, residential, hotels and masterplanning, supporting clients across the public and private sectors.
"This investment in WH Stephens is an important milestone in G&T’s long-term growth in Ireland and complements our wider business in the UK and US."Adam Glover
G&T Managing Partner
Managing Director Denis McCotter and the WHS senior leadership team will retain a significant equity stake in the business, remain in their current roles and continue to have full autonomy over day-to-day operations. This ownership structure also provides a pathway for future generations of WHS employees to become equity shareholders over time.
Clients will continue to receive the same commitment to excellence and personalised service that defines WHS, now supported by G&T’s wider sector coverage, resources and financial strength.
WHS and G&T share a long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality consultancy services across project management, cost management, principal designer roles and advisory services. This investment brings together two firms with aligned values, complementary expertise and a shared ambition to pursue new and larger opportunities in the Irish market. By combining WHS’s deep local knowledge and established reputation with G&T’s broader market reach and scale, the partnership strengthens their collective ability to support public and private sector clients across Ireland and to deliver larger, more complex programmes of work for both existing and new clients.
Commenting on the investment, Denis McCotter said: “The Investment from G&T represents an exciting new chapter for our firm which we are confident creates the platform to grow further, take on more ambitious commissions and strengthen our presence across Ireland. We look forward to working closely with our new colleagues and exploring the opportunities this brings for our clients and our people.”
Adam Glover, Managing Partner of Gardiner & Theobald added: “This investment in WH Stephens is an important milestone in G&T’s long-term growth in Ireland and complements our wider business in the UK and US. Together we can expand our reach across Ireland, pursue larger and more complex public and private sector opportunities, and deliver an even higher level of expertise and value to clients. With a strong cultural fit, we are excited to work alongside WH Stephens’s talented team, learn from their deep local expertise and support them to grow the business across all sectors of the built environment.”
About WH Stephens
WH Stephens is a multidisciplinary construction consultancy based in Belfast, operating across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and parts of the UK. The firm delivers project management, cost management, building surveying and principal designer services across a range of public and private sector projects.
About Gardiner & Theobald
Gardiner & Theobald is a construction and property consultancy with 1,500 dedicated and highly specialised professionals committed to providing World-Class Service to its clients. Founded in 1835, G&T provides Project Management, Cost Management, Infrastructure Management and Specialist Consultancy across all sectors of the built environment. The firm is selectively international and operates from a network of offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Ireland. G&T is recognised as one of the leading consultancies in the sector and has delivered some of the world’s most recognisable construction and property projects, including complex corporate office schemes, high-end residential and mixed-use developments, critical infrastructure, energy and utilities projects, five-star luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants, arts, heritage and cultural venues, innovative healthcare and educational institutions, and large-scale industrial, manufacturing, data centre and life-sciences facilities. In August 2024, Gardiner & Theobald completed a long-term strategic partnership with HennickCo.
About Hennick & Company
HennickCo is a long-term strategic partner to the world’s leading consulting, advisory and professional services firms. HennickCo invests with a generational perspective – helping world-class consulting, advisory and professional services firms thrive for the long-term. The firm partners with outstanding leadership teams who retain meaningful equity ownership and day-to-day control of their organizations, ensuring alignment among shareholders, maintaining stability for clients and professional staff, and safeguarding the distinct cultures and that make each firm exceptional.