Exponent announced a series of leadership changes effective May 1, 2026, including the promotion of John Pye to president and the appointment of Eric Anderson as chief financial officer, both reporting to CEO Catherine Corrigan.
Pye, who joined the firm in 1999, has held multiple leadership roles across engineering, innovation, and global operations. Most recently serving as vice president of global offices and innovation, he has led multidisciplinary initiatives and driven investments in advanced technical capabilities as the company expands its work across emerging technologies and complex client challenges.
Anderson, who joined Exponent in 2003, has served in several finance leadership roles, including vice president of finance and accounting since 2024. In his new role as CFO, he will oversee financial strategy, planning, and operations, building on his experience in regulatory compliance, risk management, and financial forecasting.
As part of the transition, Richard Schlenker will step down as CFO but remain executive vice president and has been nominated to stand for election to the board of directors.
The company also announced board-level changes. Paul Johnston, who has been with the firm for 45 years, will retire from the board following the annual stockholders meeting on June 4, 2026. Karen Richardson will assume the role of chairman of the board upon his retirement.
Exponent provides engineering and scientific consulting services across more than 90 technical disciplines, supporting clients including multinational corporations, law firms, insurers, and government entities across North America, Asia, and Europe.
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“John is a visionary leader with deep technical credibility and a keen ability to see around corners—anticipating how accelerating technological change, evolving risk, and heightened scrutiny of safety and performance will create opportunities for growth,” said Dr. Corrigan. “He has consistently challenged the firm to think bigger, move faster, and innovate more boldly, while staying grounded in the technical rigor and independence that define Exponent. As we evolve our capabilities and empower our people to solve increasingly complex challenges, John’s collaborative leadership style and proven ability to foster a culture of innovation make him exceptionally well suited to lead Exponent into its next stage of growth.”
Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer of Exponent, Inc.
“Eric’s appointment reflects both his exceptional technical capabilities and the high level of trust he has earned across Exponent,” said Dr. Corrigan. “He combines rigorous financial discipline with a deep understanding of our strategy and operations, and he has consistently demonstrated sound judgment, integrity, and a collaborative leadership style. I am confident he will be a strong partner as we continue to execute our long-term growth strategy.”
Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer of Exponent, Inc.
“Exponent is uniquely situated at the intersection of science, engineering, and real-world impact, and my vision is to build from this position of strength to accelerate the growth of a firm that leads through periods of rapid change,” said Dr. Pye. “By investing in innovation and our people, deepening collaboration across disciplines, and staying relentlessly focused on technical excellence, we will evolve our capabilities to meet our clients’ most complex challenges. I am excited to work with our leadership and our people to shape Exponent’s future growth.”
John Pye, Incoming President of Exponent, Inc.
“Paul’s leadership and vision of excellence have had a profound impact on Exponent over his 45-year tenure with the firm,” said Dr. Corrigan. “On a personal level, Paul has been an incredibly impactful mentor to both John and me and to so many leaders across the firm. I am immensely grateful for his lasting contributions, and I am confident in the continued strength of the Board under Karen’s leadership and with the addition of Rich’s deep financial expertise, sound judgment, and strong enterprise perspective.”
Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer of Exponent, Inc.
“On behalf of the Board and the entire firm, we thank Paul for his immeasurable contributions to Exponent,” said Ms. Richardson. “I am honored to take on the role of Chairman and look forward to continuing to build on the strong foundation Paul helped establish.”
Karen Richardson, Incoming Chairman of the Board of Exponent, Inc.
“I am fully supportive of these leadership appointments and deeply confident in the direction they set for Exponent,” said Dr. Johnston. “John Pye brings exceptional vision, technical depth, and an unwavering commitment to innovation as President, while Eric Anderson provides the financial discipline, judgment, and operational insight essential to sustaining Exponent’s long-term growth. I am equally pleased to see Karen Richardson assume the role of Chairman of the Board; her experience, integrity, and understanding of Exponent’s culture will serve the firm and its stockholders extremely well. Finally, I welcome the nomination of Rich Schlenker to the Board of Directors, where his deep institutional knowledge and strategic perspective will be invaluable. Together, this team reflects Exponent’s strong leadership bench and positions the firm exceptionally well for its next chapter.”
Paul Johnston, Chairman of the Board of Exponent, Inc.
