Project and cost management firm Compass Project Consulting (CPC) has announced the promotion of Luke Somerville to managing director (MD) and William Hitch as regional director (RD) KSA, effective 1st of August 2021.
According to a statement from the firm, the firm’s founding Partners, William, Martin, and Luke have decided the appointment of a MD is opportune at this stage of the company’s growth, to provide full time strategic guidance and support to the directors, as well as expanding the Team of 85, whilst keeping a focus on upcoming market opportunities and challenges.
With deep experience in leading project teams, Somerville’s career has taken him from Australia to the UAE and KSA. After a successful three years advancing the Saudi offices, Somerville has returned to the Dubai HQ, where he is taking up his new responsibilities in managing group administrative and regulatory accountability in addition to implementing short and long-term organisational strategies aimed at steering the business to further optimise client and team satisfaction, the statement explained.
“It is a huge privilege to be steering Compass, the region’s most ambitious and successful homegrown PMC, alongside our Team of talented people, and brilliant services. It is thrilling to experience the many ways we continue to set unprecedented benchmarks within the construction consultancy’ industry thus far, whilst positively impacting client investments every day. With advancing technology innovations and corporate social responsibility initiatives, we commit to further strengthening our foundations, building on our collective belief to always represent the best interests of our clients in all that we do, first and foremost,” says Somerville.
As a natural transition, with Somerville stepping out of his previous KSA-focused role, Hitch has relocated to Saudi Arabia, where he has spent significant time developing operational processes and nurturing client relationships, CPC noted.
Hitch’s specific management proficiency and understanding of how best to deliver projects – honed during his 18+ years international career – is proving a formidable fit for the promising Saudi market, the company said. Hitch will continue to strengthen the firm’s multi-sector construction foothold and further influence positive impacts in commercial and organisational progress, the statement pointed out.
Hitch comments, “It continues to be an exciting time within the Kingdom, with both private and institutional clients poised to deliver on Saudi’s Vision 2030. Operationally, our finessed Compass construction knowhow, supply chain knowledge and can-do attitude is permeating the market, with our increased ratio of both new business and repeat clients demonstrating the best results we could ask for. It is a pleasure to taking the helm of our Saudi-stars and we are looking forward to sharing many memorable milestones along the way.”
The firm is said to have spent a significant amount of time assessing options looking at the UAE & KSA markets and further abroad for candidates to take on these roles, however it decided that there is no-one who knows Compass’ DNA better than those who have visualised and nurtured the vision since the company’s inception in 2014, the statement explained.
Compass also stated that it will continue to build on its largest asset – people – by attracting the best global talent in the business, as well as offering professional development for the team, with policies in place to financially support each project or cost management member in advancing their own career progression by way of PMP or MRICS certification.