Nicholas Cumins Takes Helm at Bentley Systems as First Non-Family CEO

Nicholas Cumins has become the first CEO of the software company who is not a member of the Bentley family. His strategic vision emphasizes infrastructure resilience powered by artificial intelligence and focuses on the operations phase of the infrastructure lifecycle.

This leadership transition, previously announced by Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), sees Cumins taking over as CEO from Greg Bentley, the eldest of the five founding Bentley brothers, who now serves as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. This shift represents a notable milestone in the company’s evolution, marking the first time in its 40-year history that a non-family member leads the organization. The Bentley brothers originally transformed computer-aided design (CAD) software by developing MicroStation, a revolutionary engineering application platform.

Over four decades, Bentley Systems has spearheaded innovation and completed more than 120 acquisitions, establishing itself as the leading provider of infrastructure engineering software. Its digital twin solutions for infrastructure are instrumental in designing, building, and operating critical infrastructure worldwide.

Cumins assumes leadership during a pivotal period for infrastructure sectors, which face a shortage of engineers needed to meet global sustainability goals and address aging infrastructure vulnerable to climate change. In a press release, Cumins outlined Bentley’s vision for infrastructure resilience, indicating that engineering firms and asset owner-operators are increasingly relying on software to mitigate the challenges posed by limited talent availability.

Cumins highlighted that infrastructure is at a critical juncture despite significant post-pandemic capital investments in infrastructure projects and jobs. He emphasized that much work remains to enhance infrastructure resilience, with the success of these efforts significantly impacting future quality of life. Fortunately, advancements in software, particularly AI-powered digital twin solutions, are revolutionizing the infrastructure lifecycle by unlocking the value of data.

Bentley’s AI solutions, for instance, are already transforming the monitoring processes for roads, bridges, dams, water networks, and telecommunications towers. Cumins noted that every owner-operator globally is seeking simpler, more effective ways to assess the condition of their assets. He emphasized the transformative potential of AI in improving asset performance and bolstering infrastructure resilience, calling on the current generation to leverage its ingenuity and continue Bentley’s legacy of innovation to enhance infrastructure for better quality of life.

Before his promotion to CEO, Cumins served as Bentley Systems’ COO from January 2022. He joined the company as Chief Product Officer in September 2020, prior to its IPO. Cumins’ career includes roles as General Manager of SAP Marketing Cloud, Chief Product Officer of Scytl (an online voting platform), and Senior Vice President of Product at OpenX (a pioneer in programmatic advertising). His tenure at SAP encompassed various senior positions in product management, corporate strategy, and business development. Cumins holds dual French and U.S. citizenship and is based in France.

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