SOCOTEC, a pioneer in risk management and technical consultancy within the construction, real estate, and infrastructure sectors, has announced its acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, a San Diego-based testing and inspection firm established in 1986. With this acquisition, SOCOTEC significantly increases its presence in the United States, effectively doubling its workforce in the country to 1,300 professionals.
Expansion into Geotechnical and Environmental Services
Ninyo & Moore specializes in geotechnical engineering, environmental services, materials testing, inspection services, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety. Operating exclusively in the U.S., the company maintains 16 offices located across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah. About 700 employees work at Ninyo & Moore, serving a diverse client base that includes public and private sector entities such as schools, hospitals, high-rises, utilities, contractors, developers, and architects.
Focusing on Ground Stability
In the realm of geotechnical engineering, Ninyo & Moore assesses soil and rock mechanics to evaluate ground stability for construction projects. Their services encompass foundation design, slope stability, and earthquake response, alongside construction materials testing, site investigations, foundation recommendations, and seismic analysis. In the domain of environmental engineering, they address concerns involving soil and groundwater contamination, hazardous materials, and environmental compliance.
Enhancing Service Capabilities Across the U.S.
Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group, stated, “The acceleration of our growth and the deployment of our full range of services in the US is one of our major strategic priorities in our 2028 Business Plan. Ninyo & Moore is a perfect fit for SOCOTEC USA that ticks all the boxes.” With this acquisition, SOCOTEC aims to expand its service offerings by incorporating geotechnics, geophysics, material testing, and environmental services, thereby strengthening its overall value proposition for customers throughout the United States.
Aligning Strategies for Growth and Innovation
Nicolas Detchepare, CEO of SOCOTEC USA, added, "We are excited about the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, which aligns perfectly with our strategy to grow our core construction and infrastructure services in North America. This partnership will allow us to leverage our mutual expertise, service offerings, and client base to foster additional revenues and cross-selling opportunities." He also noted the seamless fit between the two companies, emphasizing Ninyo & Moore’s impressive track record and expertise, which align with SOCOTEC’s growth ambitions.
Leadership and Opportunities
Jeffrey Somerlot, who currently heads SOCOTEC USA’s ATIC (Architectural Testing, Inspection and Certification) consulting division and has been with SOCOTEC USA for 20 years, will lead the Infrastructure and Environment activities and oversee the integration of this acquisition. Avram Ninyo, founder of Ninyo & Moore, joins SOCOTEC as Senior Principal and expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. "Joining forces with SOCOTEC marks an exciting new chapter, and we are thrilled to be bringing our proven technical expertise to a larger platform," said Ninyo. He highlighted the expanded career opportunities and resources now available to employees as part of SOCOTEC’s expansive network.
SOCOTEC, a pioneer in risk management and technical consultancy in construction, real estate and infrastructure, is committed to working alongside companies to support their projects throughout the life cycle of their built assets.
By announcing the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, a testing and inspection firm established in San Diego in 1986, SOCOTEC significantly expands its footprint in the USA, doubling its size in the country and reaching a total workforce of 1300 professionals.
Geotechnical and environmental activities
Ninyo & Moore specializes in geotechnical engineering, environmental services, materials testing, inspection services, industrial hygiene and occupational safety. The company operates exclusively in the U.S., with 16 offices across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah.
The company employs approximately 700 professionals in the fields of geotechnical and environmental activities. Ninyo & Moore's diverse client base spans the public and private sectors, including schools, hospitals, high-rises, utilities, contractors, developers, and architects.
Ground stability for construction projects
Ninyo & Moore focuses on analyzing soil and rock mechanics to assess ground stability for construction projects
In geotechnical engineering, Ninyo & Moore focuses on analyzing soil and rock mechanics to assess ground stability for construction projects, including foundation design, slope stability, and earthquake response. Their services include construction materials testing, site investigations, foundation recommendations, and seismic analysis.
In environmental engineering, they evaluate and manage environmental impacts, addressing soil and groundwater contamination, hazardous materials, and environmental compliance.
Full range of services in the US
Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group, stated: “The acceleration of our growth and the deployment of our full range of services in the US is one of our major strategic priorities in our 2028 Business Plan. Ninyo & Moore is a perfect fit for SOCOTEC USA that ticks all the boxes."
"With this acquisition, SOCOTEC aims to complements its existing service offering by expanding its capabilities into geotechnics, geophysics, material testing, and environmental services, thereby strengthening our overall value proposition for customers throughout the United States.”
SOCOTEC’s ambitions and vision for innovation and growth
Nicolas Detchepare, CEO of SOCOTEC USA, added: "We are excited about the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, which aligns perfectly with our strategy to grow our core construction and infrastructure services in North America. This partnership will allow us to leverage our mutual expertise, service offerings, and client base to foster additional revenues and cross-selling opportunities."
"From our first discussions, we were convinced about the great fit between our companies. Ninyo & Moore’s impressive track record and expertise perfectly align with SOCOTEC’s ambitions and vision for innovation and growth – we are proud to have doubled our team’s size."
"Jeffrey Somerlot currently heading the firm’s ATIC (Architectural Testing, Inspection and Certification) consulting division, and who has been part of SOCOTEC USA’s leadership team for 20 years, will take on the leadership role for the Infrastructure and Environment activities within SOCOTEC USA and will steer this acquisition integration.”
Career opportunities and resources
Avram Ninyo, founder of Ninyo & Moore, who joins SOCOTEC as Senior Principal, commented: “Joining forces with SOCOTEC marks an exciting new chapter, and we are thrilled to be bringing our proven technical expertise to a larger platform."
"With SOCOTEC's foothold across the country, we can continue expanding our offerings into new geographies. Additionally, being a part of the greater SOCOTEC network allows additional career opportunities and resources for all our employees. Our trajectory is poised for remarkable achievements."
