Mr Cole has a degree in Environmental Engineering from London South Bank University and is a UK qualified Chartered Engineer. He was a founder of WSP Group Plc, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987 and where he was CEO until it merged with Genivar Inc. in 2012 to become WSP Global Inc. Mr Cole remains as the Non-Executive Chairman. He is also Non-Executive Chairman of Tracsis Plc and Non-Executive Director of Safe Harbour Holdings Plc.
He was appointed as Non-Executive Independent Chairman on 7th May 2014, and thereafter re-elected by the AGM on May 31st 2018.