Ramboll and Mott MacDonald announce senior appointments

29 August 2019 Consultancy-me.com

Engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald has appointed former Emirates and Dubai Airports exec Jenny Munro as the new leader of its aviation practice in the Middle East and South Asia. Meanwhile, fellow engineers Ramboll have elevated Middle East and Asia Pacific managing director Richard Beard as the global director of its buildings division.

The Middle Eastern engineering consultancy scene has seen two major appointments this week, with Mott MacDonald recruiting former Emirates Airlines executive Jenny Munro to oversee its aviation advisory, design and project management portfolio across the Middle East and South Asia region, and Ramboll tapping Dubai-based Middle East and Asia Pacific CEO Richard Beard as the new managing director of its global Buildings business.

Having dabbled in the real estate sector on the French Riviera over the past four or so years, Bagshaw returns to both the aviation industry and Dubai, where she had previously spent over a decade between Emirates Airlines and Dubai Airports, the latter as a Vice President for Development before taking up a managing director role with London Biggin Hill Airport. Bagshaw has altogether more than two decades of senior industry experience.

“I am thrilled to be back in Dubai and look forward to harnessing the significant potential in the aviation sector across the region,” Bagshaw said. “I am working with an impressive team of professionals within a hugely respected organisation, and have no doubt that we will continue to build our presence, bringing world class value to existing and new clients.” According to the firm, it has current airport commissions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Islamabad and Mumbai.Richard Beard of Ramboll and Jenny-Bagshaw of Mott MacDonald“Jenny’s appointment marks an exciting period of development for our aviation team in the region, and further strengthens our global expertise in airport operations and service development,” commented Mott MacDonald global aviation leader Graham Bolton. "She brings significant regional experience and a focus on world class passenger experience, providing further expertise and knowledge to our clients in the region”.

Meanwhile, fellow international design and engineering consultancy Ramboll (earlier this year, the two firms were appointed in partnership as the design engineers for the Stansted Airport expansion in London) has announced Beard as the new head of its global buildings practice – a division with 4,500 employees worldwide and revenues of around $500 million. Beard will undertake the role in conjunction with his current Middle East and Asia Pacific CEO duties.

“It is an incredibly exciting time right now for our buildings business, following our recent internationalisation with increased global collaboration across the company,” Beard said. “I am really looking forward to working further with our international focus in this business area and particularly within smart and sustainable buildings, together with colleagues whom I already know as very competent, creative and dynamic.”

Beard joined Ramboll a little over five years ago, having previously amassed over three decades of construction industry experience – more than two of those with Halcrow – with his association with the Middle East dating back to at least 1994. Beard held a number of roles during his time with Halcrow, including as managing director for the UAE, and ultimately as its global director for Ports and Maritime. Industry publication Construction Weekly recently named Beard at #39 on its annual Power 100 list of the most influential construction leaders in the Middle East.