Roland Berger promotes former KSA government adviser to partner
PPP veteran Richard Paton has worked on a number of Middle East projects
Consultancy firm Roland Berger says it has appointed Richard Paton, a former UK and Saudi Arabian government adviser, to its Middle East team. The company says Paton has a mandate to enhance the firm’s infrastructure, public sector and defense practice across the Middle East.
Paton has over 20 years’ experience, eight years having been spent in the region and the last five years in Riyadh, said the firm in a statement. He joins Roland Berger from an international business consultancy, where he was head of infrastructure advisory services for the Middle East and South Asia, as well as head of PPP and public-sector strategy in Saudi Arabia, advising governments across the region on complex PPP financing structures.
“Our Middle East practice is going from strength to strength, and we are delighted to be growing our team further by onboarding Richard Paton as Partner,” said Kushal Shah, managing partner for the Middle East at Roland Berger. “Having previously been involved in the largest PPP transactions across the Middle East – including three airports, nuclear and renewable financing projects, school and hospital PPPs – he brings a wealth of experience as well as an innovative commercial approach, balancing government risk with private sector funding.”
According to Roland Berger, Paton has also worked for the UK government as an economist briefing ministers on energy policy and macroeconomics before becoming the Head of Regulatory Review for the Office of Fair Trading, leading economic investigations of mergers and acquisitions and their impacts on market structure, competitiveness and consumers. In addition, Richard has had the opportunity to work for and advise foreign government ministers, including those of Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
“I am delighted to be joining Roland Berger. Their mix of entrepreneurship, innovation and depth of expertise provides an excellent platform from which to deliver exceptional advice to our clients,” said Paton.
