Autodesk Appointed Diana Colella to Lead AEC Division
The veteran executive will oversee the architecture, engineering, and construction sector during a leadership transition.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in People
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Autodesk has named Diana Colella as the new head of its Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) division. She replaces Amy Bunszel, who announced her retirement in August 2026 and will remain with the company through early November.
Why it matters
The appointment marks a strategic pivot for Autodesk as the company seeks to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into its core construction and design workflows.
Diana Colella brings nearly 29 years of experience to her new role, having joined the company following the acquisition of Discreet Logic. She is a certified public accountant and holds a master's degree from McGill University.
The players
Diana Colella
She is the newly appointed head of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction division at Autodesk who previously led the media and entertainment sector.
Amy Bunszel
She is a retiring executive at Autodesk who has served in various leadership capacities and will remain through early November to support the transition.
Autodesk
This is a multinational software corporation that creates software for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries.
The details
Colella plans to advance the Autodesk Forma strategy by focusing on connecting desktop products to cloud-based workflows. Her previous experience includes leading the company's media and entertainment division.
Timeline
Amy Bunszel announced her retirement in August 2026.
Amy Bunszel will depart the company on November 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership shift reinforces the company's commitment to the Autodesk Forma strategy within a highly competitive design software market. It positions the firm to further integrate cloud-based automation tools to defend its enterprise market share against emerging industry rivals.
Professional users of AEC software can expect a continued push toward AI-driven features and cloud-connected desktop tools under the new leadership. These changes aim to streamline project lifecycles, though specific shifts in subscription tiers or pricing remain unannounced.
The takeaway
The appointment signals that Autodesk is prioritizing technical integration over traditional maintenance during its next growth phase. Customers should monitor future product updates for new AI-powered tools that may change how projects are managed from initial design to completion.
What happens next
Amy Bunszel is scheduled to leave the company on November 2, 2026, following the conclusion of her transition support period.
Further reading
Learn more about corporate leadership shifts in the People section.
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