Global engineering, advisory and design company Aurecon has announced the appointment of its new leadership team for the Middle East region.

An industry veteran, Sean Murphy has been named the Built Environment Leader for the region, while Robert Latham is the new client director and Colum O’Donovan the new country manager for Abu Dhabi.

Dedicated to creating value through innovative thought and technical excellence, these latest leadership appointments from Aurecon come as the company continues to strengthen its business around digital transformation and infrastructure in the Middle East.  

Welcoming the new team, regional director (Middle East) Ermis Marques said: "Aurecon has worked effectively in cross regional teams to deliver some of the largest and most complex projects in our industry."

"Our vision is to now bring advisory, asset optimisation and digital skills to our key clients so that we can provide more value across the full continuum of the asset life cycle. Our new leadership appointments are integral in helping Aurecon make this happen in the Middle East," he added.

Murphy is an industry veteran with extensive international project experience in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Mena region.

He has comprehensive knowledge of international best practices and codes in MEP design, together with a proven record of local and international team management.

He joins Aurecon from Ramboll Middle East where he was the Middle East buildings director. Prior to that he was a director at Foreman Roberts Consulting and WSP Global.  

“Aurecon’s digital vision is to be the leader in taking digital solutions to our clients and, leveraging on our local Architect of Record (AOR) registrations in the UAE, together with our technical excellence, I am thrilled to be part of this next stage of Aurecon’s growth in the region,” said Murphy.

Latham is a 30-year seasoned professional in the construction industry and a proven executive leader with a strong track record of quality delivery and building successful businesses and teams in a multi-cultural environment.

Armed with 25 years’ experience in the Middle East, he has in-depth understanding of the technical, commercial, and partnership conditions unique to the region.  

Latham comes into the client director role after handing the operational reins over to Murphy so that he can focus solely on Aurecon key clients in the region including Saudi Arabia.

O’Donovan now leads Aurecon’s Abu Dhabi office having previously led Aurecon’s Professional Services’ Unit and more recently established the Energy Resource, Manufacturing and Defence Markets in the Middle East.

His work has also allowed him to play a key delivery role on projects such as The Tower at Dubai Creek and the CoEx Campus Dubai Expo 2020 which involved working with a team of engineering professionals in master planning, infrastructure, lead and project management design.  

O’Donovan is looking forward to his new role in leading the Abu Dhabi business and clients while still focusing on the strategic opportunities Abu Dhabi has to offer in Advisory and Defence.   

“Through a thorough understanding of our clients’ technical needs I am really excited to help clients realise more value from their entire asset base,” he stated.

Aurecon has delivered some of the Middle East’s most landmark projects in recent years that include The Tower at Dubai Creek, CoEx Campus Dubai Expo 2020, and the Signature Stadium for FIFA’s 2022 World Cup.-TradeArabia News Service