Foster has more than 30 years’ experience as a landscape architect and has been with LDA Design since 2001.
He previously spent eight years as an Illman Young associate and also worked for Nicolas de Jong Associates and Derek Lovejoy Partnership.
Foster takes over from Colin Goodrum who served as the practice’s first managing director - a post with a three-year term - during LDA Design's 40th year in business.
He has expertise is in masterplanning and landscape design for complex, large-scale mixed-use and residential developments and for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Current projects include advising on landscape masterplanning, Environment Impact Assesment and design implementation for a 2,500 mixed-use development in Gloucestershire leading the landscape and green infrastructure design of a major brownfield redevelopment project in Yorkshire.
Recently he has been working on LDA’s growth strategy, including the launch of its Manchester studio as well as developing its business culture in preparation for its transition to employee ownership.
Foster said: "As a business we are moving at pace with growth in offices and professional services, along with our continued commitment toward Employee Ownership. I know that a shared sense of purpose will be fundamental to our success. Part of my role will be to make sure that everyone at LDA Design feels they are equipped to shape the future of the company."
Chairman of LDA Design Andrew Harland said: "Mike is committed to unlocking talent and strengthening our team approach. Colin has shaped the new role decisively, and propelled forward a highly ambitious Three Year Plan for LDA Design, which has included the opening of three new offices in Bristol and Cambridge as well as Manchester, over the last 12 months. He has also championed growth in planning, securing the appointment of Alex Herbert to oversee the doubling of our planning team. This strategy is putting us in a very strong position in anticipation of the transition to employee ownership.
