Soto News Locally Founded Engineering Firm Appoints New CEO to Lead National Growth New CEO Paul Ormerod appointed to lead Unanderra-based Soto Consulting Engineers. Founder Frank Soto steps into the Chair role after 27 years at the helm. National growth plans underway with continued local presence. Soto Consulting Engineers, a business founded in the Illawarra and working with top-tier clients in industrial manufacturing, alumina, resources, cement and renewables across Australia and respected nationally for its engineering expertise, has appointed Paul Ormerod as its new Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition marks a pivotal moment for the company, which has grown steadily over 27 years from a small consultancy in Unanderra to a trusted partner for some of Australia’s major industries, such as supporting engineering design works for BlueScope Steel’s $1 billion-plus Blast Furnace No 6 reline project, Founder Frank Soto, who launched the business in 1998 with a single laptop and a passion for engineering, will step into the role of Chair of the Board, continuing to guide strategy and support leadership development. Day-to-day leadership of the business now rests with Paul and Soto’s expanding executive team. “After nearly three decades leading Soto, the time is right to pass the baton. This transition has been in the works for some time. Paul shares the values we’ve built the business on – respect, integrity and a passion for people and problem-solving. He’s got the experience, the energy and the vision to lead the next chapter.” – Frank Soto A leader with a passion for people and performance Paul Ormerod brings more than 30 years of experience in senior leadership, commercial strategy and team development across Australia and the UK. He has held key roles including Managing Director for Nisbets ANZ, Chief Commercial Officer at Park Pty Ltd, and most recently, Head of Commercial at SECA. Having worked with global brands and led multimillion-dollar operations, Paul says it was Soto’s people – and its local roots – that drew him in. “From the moment I met Frank and the team, I felt the culture was something special,” Paul said. “This is a business where engineers stay for ten, fifteen, even twenty years, not just because the work is technically challenging, but because they’re respected, supported, and proud of what they do.” Paul lives in the Illawarra and says the opportunity to lead a business founded in the region, with such a strong reputation, was a rare privilege. “Soto has played a quiet but powerful role in shaping the local industry over the past two decades,” he said. “Now the opportunity is to take that capability to a national scale, while staying true to what’s made us successful: our people, our values, and the quality of our engineering.” A clear vision for the future Under Paul’s leadership, Soto will focus on expanding its national presence, strengthening partnerships with long-term clients, and continuing to invest in its people. A key part of that strategy includes growing the Associate Program, a unique employee ownership model that rewards long-term contribution and leadership. “My leadership style is collaborative, clear and people-focused. Our next chapter is about scaling with intent, not revolution, but evolution. We’ll keep building capability in-house, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and embedding world-class systems that let our engineers focus on what they do best: solving tough problems for our clients.” – Paul Ormerod Business as usual, with sights set higher While the appointment marks a new era for Soto, Frank says clients and partners can expect continuity in what matters most. “This isn’t about changing who we are, it’s about backing the next generation to lead with confidence,” Frank said. “I’ll remain involved as Chair, but Paul and the executive team are now driving the business forward. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited about where it’s going.”