N2Growth Recruits CEO for KTGY
April 16, 2026 – N2Growth, a Philadelphia-based management consulting and executive search firm, has placed William Bate as CEO of KTGY, a national design firm focused on architecture, interior design, branded environments, and urban design. Brian Greer led the assignment. The search was prompted by the planned retirement of Tricia Esser, who has been with KTGY since its founding and has served as CEO since 2006. The board viewed the transition as an opportunity to find the right leader with strong business acumen, proven management expertise and a people-centric mindset essential to propel the firm’s next phase of growth. N2Growth, recognized for its ability to identify leadership talent across industries, was retained to lead the search.
“Tricia Esser’s leadership and dedication to our firm over the last three decades has been critical in broadening KTGY’s reach as a national firm, and for that, we are extremely grateful,” said Jill Williams, chairman of the board at KTGY. “After a rigorous search for a new CEO to drive continued success, we’re pleased to welcome Will Bate to KTGY. Beyond his superior management expertise, what resonated most with our board was Will’s collaborative spirit, his curiosity, and his genuine appreciation for the people-centric culture that makes KTGY special.”
N2Growth’s process began with an extensive stakeholder alignment effort before the search was opened. The team conducted one-on-one interviews with more than 25 firm shareholders to develop a leadership profile grounded in the organization’s business priorities and market realities. That process produced a candidate brief centered on where KTGY is headed, rather than on the conventional expectations of what a CEO in this industry has traditionally looked like.
“Architecture firms rarely look outside their own industry to identify senior leaders, which made this an important and consequential search,” said Mr. Greer. “KTGY’s board showed genuine conviction in approaching this transition differently. That trust allowed us to conduct a search without boundaries, and ultimately to identify a leader whose strategic background and approach to organizational growth align closely with where KTGY is headed.”
“I’m so grateful for the last 35 years at KTGY, and look forward to acting as a strategic partner and advisor to Will as he takes on the role of CEO,” said Ms. Esser. “We’re confident that he brings the talent, vision, and heart needed to guide KTGY into a new era of growth and long-term success.”
Related: N2Growth Recruits CHRO of EnerSys
“I’m honored to join KTGY at such an exciting moment in its journey,” said Mr. Bate. “This is a firm with a strong legacy and a clear sense of purpose. I look forward to working alongside the team here to shape what’s next and deliver meaningful impact for our clients and communities.”
Former Boston Consulting Group Exec
Mr. Bate joins KTGY following a 15-year career at Boston Consulting Group, where he served as managing director and partner and led the North America real estate and cities practice. He brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, digital transformation, and mergers and acquisitions, with a consistent focus on the real estate and services sectors.
The Select Guide to America’s Top 250 Executive Search Firms
Hunt Scanlon Media proudly presents the Select Guide to America’s Top 250 Executive Search Firms.
This comprehensive online directory is your definitive resource for finding the best executive search firms to serve your talent needs.
Our guide is meticulously curated to connect you with leading firms that specialize in various industries and functions, ensuring you find the perfect match for your executive recruitment needs.
Founded in 1991, KTGY is an award-winning firm of architects, designers and planners that realize new possibilities through inspired design. Mr. Bate will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
N2Growth is a global leadership consultancy with practice areas in executive search, culture shaping, leadership development, strategy, organizational design, risk, digital transformation, and executive coaching. The firm has more than 40 locations across the Americas, Europe, MENA, and APAC.
Mr. Greer is a senior director at N2Growth in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and works in the executive search practice. He consults with clients and executives to uncover talent needs, advises them on best-in-class approaches to leadership, and helps partners build strong C-suite leadership pipelines that will drive their short- and long-term success. Prior to N2Growth, Mr. Greer led leadership development and learning at Aramark.
Related: N2Growth Recruits CFO for Medtronic
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
