Strong organisational, leadership and management skills.
Vast experience in built form, master-planned, infrastructure, signature and volume assets.
Extensive experience in real estate investment & development strategy.
Strong knowledge and experience in project and construction management.
Vast experience in the planning, design and construction of retail, office, leisure, industrial and residential property.
Vast experience of negotiating property deals and all legal documentation
Competence in the production of property development/investment appraisals
Extensive experience in the negotiation of Joint Ventures and all forms of property funding
Extensive personal contacts throughout the real estate construction, development and investment industry.
Employment Experience
Currently engaged on a short term consultancy role based in Bahrain, advising MENA clients with respect to property development, construction planning & investment strategy on projects in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Kurdistan.
February 2013 to July 2013
Managing Director, Capitas Group International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Reporting to the CEO. Directed to rapidly grow the Development Management Services/Project Management business with a focus on the Saudi market.
Responsible for managing staff and project teams engaged on a 370 key Hotel and serviced apartments in Riyadh and a high end beach resort in Jeddah.
April 2009 to February 2013
Chief Development & Investment Officer, Burooj Properties, Abu Dhabi
Custodian of the Development and Investment Division with full P&L responsibility.
Direct report to Managing Director.
Direct reporting: Deputy, Executive Director Development, Executive Director Investment, Finance Director, Marketing Director, HR Director, Head of Asset Management and Legal Director.
Key activities:-
Development
Direct all Development and Investment Deal Sourcing activities for the company.
Direct the Development team with respect to the total development process including: deal creation; finance and legal structure; consultant and construction procurement; project programme, quality and cost; sales and marketing, project and department reporting, risk and compliance.
Projects included:
Sharjah Marina; 5 million sq ft mixed use including 800,000 sq ft retail, hotel, serviced apartments and residential apartments
Residential towers on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi
Villa compounds throughout Abu Dhabi
Personally responsible (acting as Project Director) for the development of a US$ 200 million twin tower office building for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. The development consists of two 14 storey office towers (500,000sq ft net lettable area), a 3 storey retail atrium and four level underground car park.
Investment
Direct the Investment Team with respect to investment strategy; portfolio performance; due diligence; deal structures; financial and legal implications; risk analysis and mitigation; sharia compliance; deal finance; fund, asset and property management; deal and department reporting.
Investment portfolio value US$ 1.65 billion located throughout the Middle East and consisted of hotel, residential and office space.
September 2005 – April 2009
Executive Director, Gulf Finance House, Bahrain.
Responsible for managing the delivery of real estate development projects for the Company by driving the full development process including all development and project management, legal, technical, marketing and finance aspects. Project Teams generally consisted of circa 25 to 30 professionals and consultants.
Principally engaged on:-
Jordan Gate, a 2.2 million sq ft development comprising two 42 storey towers, 530 room hotel for Hilton, 500,000sq ft retail and 650,000 sq ft NLA of offices located in Amman, Jordan
Royal Village Amman, Jordan, a 47 hectare mixed use development comprising offices, residential and retail.
Royal Ranches Marrakech, Morocco, a 380 hectare mixed use development comprising three hotels, an 18 hole Greg Norman golf course, an equestrian track and spectator stadium, retail and residential.
Royal Resort Cap Malabata, Tangier, Morocco, a 113 hectare mixed use development comprising 4 hotels, spa, and residential.
Responsibilities:-
Deal creation, feasibility, project team structure and procurement
Lead due diligence analysis and oversee the appointment of all consultants and contractors.
Supervision of staff and consultants responsible for the design and procurement of on site and off site infrastructure and enabling works
Manage and co-ordinate the master-plan design process including set up of the design guidelines, sales and purchase agreements and master community declarations.
Supervision of master planning, concept design, detailed design and specification, tender process and contractor selection
Government, Municipality, Planning and Infrastructure negotiations.
Project management and project delivery.
Manage project payments, cash flow and project development programmes.
Ensure correct handover and commissioning of the appropriate elements in the projects.
Manage or Coordinate all sales and marketing, finance and all technical elements across both GFH and the project companies. Produce the appropriate business model for the project and ensure project viability
Produce regular reports to monitor project company performance and project progress.
Produce monthly financial and management information for the projects and the project companies.
Oversee project company audits and GFH quarterly audits including impairment analysis.
Total P & L responsibility and charged with the success and growth of the company.
Hands on management of the whole development life cycle.
Projects included:
Multiple mixed use projects in central London
280 acre mixed use (hotel, industrial, office & warehouse) development at Herne Bay, UK
5-acre motor dealership park alongside the M40 at Banbury, UK forward funded by AXA.
October 1989 - January 2003
Developments Director: Hostmead Developments Ltd, Hampshire, UK
Developments Director and shareholder, working closely with my two Co-Directors / shareholders
to enhance the value of the company.
Particular areas of responsibility:
Negotiating land and property acquisition.
Negotiation of Joint Ventures.
Establishing the most appropriate form of funding for particular projects.
Negotiation of funding agreements including all necessary legal documentation.
Selection and appointment of all external consultants.
Controlling the planning process
Negotiation of all infrastructure service providers
Instructing and co-ordinating the services of external consultants, Solicitors and Agents.
Negotiation of ground leases and occupational leases.
Agreeing specifications, co-ordinating the production of all contract documentation,
Managing the tender process and contractor selection.
Supervising the design and construction process.
Managing marketing consultants.
Examples of completed projects include:
Many pre-let and pre-sold office and residential buildings throughout the UK
Over 3 million sq ft of large high bay warehouses to W.H.Smith, De La Rue, Booker Foods, Epicure, Staveley Industries, Londis and other major occupiers.
Two call centres for Kwik-Fit Insurance Ltd
Several large office parks in Southern England
Care homes throughout the South of England.
Development finance agreements with ING, Barclays Property, Sears Pension Fund, Gulliver Trust
Joint venture developments with Virgin, ING, AXA, Royal Bank of Scotland
Arora Hotel Gatwick, London
June 1988 - October 1989
Retail Developments Director: Arundel House Securities PLC. London.
Responsible to the Chief Executive Officer for the direction, co-ordination and overall management of 7 staff and 35 outsourced professionals engaged on retail developments throughout the U.K.
Also responsible for directing project teams engaged on competition submissions to District Authorities
Responsible for directing out of house professionals and consultants engaged on several major retail schemes:
Walthamstow Shopping Centre 300,000 sq ft. NLA
Southampton Marlands Shopping Centre 375,000 sq ft.NLA
May 1985 - April 1987
Senior Contracts Manager: Bovis Construction Ltd. London.
Working exclusively on Management Forms of Contract. Responsible for overall planning, control and co-ordination of building projects throughout London.
Principally engaged on projects for Marks & Spencer, but also involved with the Broadgate office development and Chelsea Harbour residential development.
April 1984 - May 1985
Project Manager, Saudi Arabia
Joined Tamimi and Fouad Group as Projects Manager on a Design Build and Maintenance contract for the Arabian American Oil Company. Engaged on major mixed-use building and civil engineering projects throughout the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
