Independent professional services firm Turner & Townsend has made two changes to its senior leadership in the region. Alan Talabani and Robert Edwards have been appointed regional managing director for the Middle East, and country manager for the UAE respectively.
Talabani’s appointment comes following the retirement of Mike Collings. Talabani has worked with Turner & Townsend for 20 years, and set up the firm’s Abu Dhabi office in 2008. In his prior role as UAE country manager in charge of the firm’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices, he contributed significantly towards the firm’s business growth in the region, according to a statement from the firm.
The firm has provided advisory services on a number of major infrastructure schemes in the UAE, particularly key aviation programmes. Talabani has also worked on several “significant” real estate projects in the region. The firm says that its revenue has grown by an average of 30% since 2012, despite the slow recovery of oil and gas prices, and the impact it has had on the regional construction sector.
Commenting on Turner & Townsend’s expansion in the region, Alan Talabani said, “Over the last decade our business in the Middle East has grown from fewer than 30 members of staff to over 350, and I’m immensely proud of our achievements. Our success is rooted in having dedicated individuals working as a team to deliver quality services to our clients across the region.”
Robert Edwards is another veteran of Turner & Townsend, having also worked with the firm for 20 years. Edwards has more than 35 years of industry experience and is joining the Middle East from the firm’s Latin America office, where he served as managing director.
Commenting on his new position, Edwards said, “I’m delighted to be joining our UAE team and to be working in the Middle East to continue Turner & Townsend’s growth across our three operating sectors of infrastructure, natural resources and real estate. Our one business, one identity model plays a key role in ensuring that we deliver quality and consistent services across the globe, thus making our teams, including myself, well positioned to drive best outcomes for our clients, our people and our business.”