Cavendish Maxwell, the Dubai-headquartered independent chartered surveying firm and property consultant, has announced the appointment of Chris Taylor, former CEO at Abu Dhabi Finance, as the company’s new Group CEO.
In a statement, the firm said that Taylor brings more than 25 years of experience in real estate and finance services, with the last 14 years based in the UAE, most recently with Abu Dhabi Finance. Taylor was instrumental in building an impressive portfolio of assets through a strategy of geographic expansion and product diversification.
Commenting on the appointment Jay Grant, Founder and Chairman, said:
“It is a privilege to welcome Chris as CEO of Cavendish Maxwell. He is an innovative and strategic thinker who perfectly represents the high expectations and professional standards we set here. I am very excited to be working with him as we continue our ambitious regional growth strategy.
“Recent times have provided an opportunity to reflect on the position and future of the business and we are receptive to embracing the positive changes Chris will introduce. We have an incredible team of people and a highly creative energy, both of which Chris recognises. His ideas, ambition and style of leadership are very much welcomed by all of us,” he added.
During his time at Abu Dhabi Finance, he received many accolades including Top 3 SME Great Place to Work, Best Retail Finance Company and Best Home Finance Company.
Before joining Abu Dhabi Finance, Chris was the acting CEO for the National Bank of Fujairah and was responsible for leading the bank through the 2008 financial crisis. Prior to relocating to the UAE, Chris worked at Bank of America and Deloitte across Europe and North America. Chris is a chartered accountant (ACA) and is currently the vice president of the INSEAD National Alumni Association in the UAE.
Chris Taylor said:
“It’s an exciting time to join Cavendish Maxwell as we embark on the next phase of growth and expansion. I’m looking forward to working with Jay and the senior management team as we expand our thriving business into new markets and introduce new service lines to meet client demand. We have a team of outstanding people across our offices and will look to strengthen our position as a trusted, innovative and exceptional professional services firm in the region.”
This recent appointment is in line with Cavendish Maxwell’s plans to expand operations further across the region with new offices and service lines, the statement added.
In 2021, the company opened its fourth office in the UAE in Ajman and in Bahrain in Manama, establishing presence in three countries including Oman.