WSP Middle East has made a number of key appointments to lead areas of strategic importance for the business.

Joining the WSP in the Middle East in January, 2021, Kathleen McGrail has been appointed Managing Director – Advisory Services. In this newly-created role, Kathleen is responsible for overseeing, growing and developing WSP’s strategic advisory service offering across the Middle East.

Following successful tenures in similar industry roles, Kathleen is committed to advising WSP clients on the best strategic course of action; offering assistance through performance analysis, strategic planning, and wider management consultancy support.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to join such a strong Executive Committee and drive the transformation of WSP’s Advisory Services business in the Middle East. This region is ripe with possibilities in the advisory space, which is why I am looking forward to creating greater value for clients and working alongside them to optimise the potential of their existing and planned asset portfolios,” Kathleen McGrail said.

Meanwhile, Ian McGauley has been promoted internally to lead our Middle East Project Management Services business. Project Management Services has been identified as a core growth area for WSP Middle East and Ian has displayed a positive impact in growing this business over the last year, elevating WSP’s ability to deliver an all-encompassing, technically-backed project management offering to clients in region.

“WSP prides itself on responding to the changing nature of our clients’ needs and delivering services in line with future market trends. The inception of Project Management Services in WSP Middle East is a direct reflection of our willingness to offer world class project management solutions to support the ambitions of our clients and the wider region.” Ian McGauley said.

Another significant internal appointment has been made with Dr. Mohamed Nazier taking on the Managing Director role of WSP Middle East’s Transport & Infrastructure business, which now includes Power & Water operations. Mohamed has been with WSP for more than 15 years – most recently as Programme Director for one of the largest infrastructure delivery programmes in the region, the Local Roads & Drainage Programme. Dr. Mohamed has an intrinsic knowledge of the Transport & Infrastructure landscape and is uniquely placed to bring best-in-class perspectives on how to support clients and project delivery.

“Understanding the needs of our clients’ and the communities’ in which we operate is essential and as industry professionals within the Transport & Infrastructure sector, our role to innovate for tomorrow’s needs is more poignant now than ever before. I am delighted to be tasked with leading WSP Middle East’s Transport & Infrastructure business and look forward to continuing the work we do in creating solutions for our clients and the projects of tomorrow,” Dr. Mohamed Nazier said.

Alongside the new appointments to WSP Middle East’s executive committee, Dean McGrail remains Managing Director – Property & Buildings, and will continue to bolster the strong market position of the Property & Buildings business. Dean’s ability to deliver results in the Property & Buildings sphere remains an integral part of WSP’s growth trajectory in the Middle East.

“The engineering and construction landscape of the Middle East is undergoing rapid transformation in response to evolving market dynamics, new technologies, and an emerging hotbed of talent. WSP’s Property & Buildings business is cognisant of these changes, which is why we remain dedicated to leveraging our core engineering strengths whilst also ensuring that we are at the forefront of innovation. This allows us to be agile, build resilience into our strategic focus areas, and create world-class outcomes for world-class clients in the years ahead,” Dean McGrail said.

Commenting on the strength of WSP Middle East’s Executive Committee, Greg Kane, Chief Executive Officer at WSP Middle East, said:

“WSP is a business that strives to make an efficient, effective, positive impact on the ambitions of our clients and the communities in which we serve. I am confident in the complementary strengths that Kathleen, Ian, Dr. Mohamed, and Dean bring to our business, and I am thrilled to see their collective talent, insight, and knowledge transpire into value for our business throughout 2021 and beyond.”

To hear more about this recent announcement and WSP Middle East’s strategic outlook for 2021, tune in to Greg Kane’s recent interview with Construction Week by clicking here or on the videos below.