Yaver Abidi has joined engineering and design firm Ramboll as managing director for its ‘new markets’ business unit, which includes both the Middle East and India.
Based in Dubai, Abidi will assume responsibility for the firm’s main business lines and local units, covering all activities, including buildings, transport and environment projects, for regions outside Ramboll’s Nordic and UK home markets.
He will also take responsibility for the development of new services and sectors.
Abidi commented: “Today, Ramboll Middle East and Ramboll India are the main business units that make up our new markets. Our strategic goal is to develop our presence in these growth markets significantly, as well as expand into regions such as Russia, South East Asia, North America and Africa.”
Ramboll’s new MD joins the company from Halcrow and CH2M Hill, where he most recently held the position of regional managing director for the Middle East & Africa. His career at Halcrow began in 1995, and Yaver held several senior positions within the company, including group board director.
Through his previous roles he has been involved with corporate strategy, cross business optimisation, alliances and merger and acquisition activities, working across North America, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.
While Ramboll’s business in the Nordic region constituted 20% of the company’s $1.3bn turnover in 2012, the firm’s target is to expand this to account for 40-50% of its total turnover by 2016.
