Atkins announces three new appointments to senior MEA leadership team
Appointments made across its design and engineering, Faithful+Gould and Atkins Acuity business lines
Atkins, a leading design, engineering and project management consultancy, has announced three new appointments to its senior leadership team in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, as part of its expansion plans for the region.
According to Atkins, these new appointments have been made across its design and engineering, Faithful+Gould and Atkins Acuity business lines. Atkins is a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group and has delivered several flagship projects in the UAE.
Johan Hesselsoe has been named as the new managing director for MEA region. In his new role, he will lead the integrated project and programme management services business under the Faithful+Gould brand, with a mandate to grow the business with existing and new clients.
Prior to this, Hesselsoe was managing director of Atkins Acuity for over three years where he successfully developed the business while working collaboratively with other Atkins business lines to maximise client opportunities.
He has more than 12 years’ experience in the Middle East and worked with McKinsey for 10 years before joining the company, said the statement from Atkins.
Kathleen McGrail has been appointed the managing director for MEA at Atkins Acuity after 8 years in key roles growing and developing the Acuity business. She will oversee Atkins’ uniquely positioned advisory business which includes strategic, financing and technical consulting capabilities to help clients solve complex front-end problems in the built environment.
McGrail has over 20 years of experience in transformation, programme and change management which she has applied on a number of high-profile infrastructure projects across the GCC. Prior to joining Atkins, she worked for 5 years within Deloitte’s Program Leadership consulting practice.
Shadi Jebreel has been named the country director, UAE for Atkins’ design and engineering business. He will be tasked with further cementing and growing the business’s footprint in the UAE by capitalising on technical expertise and driving opportunities with both existing and new clients.
Jebreel has been with the company for 11 years; initially in the UK and then in the UAE for the past 8 years. He previously held the role of civil, infrastructure and transportation market director, bringing in successful projects and business opportunities with clients such as Dubai Airports and The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Over the past 10 years, Atkins has built a successful relationship with RTA supporting the Dubai Metro. Atkins provided full multidisciplinary design and management of the civil works on Dubai Metro.