Chutter, Zenas and Jonsson .... set for a major advisory role.
UAE group Sanad names panel for $450m theme park
DUBAI, July 8, 2017
UAE-based Sanad Capital has named three top global executives who will serve as expert advisers to the company, to bolster the success of its $450-million theme park in Australia on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The trio - Joe Zenas, CEO of Thinkwell Group, Geoff Chutter, the president and CEO of Whitewater, and Fredrik Jonsson, the founder and managing partner of Mereha - will sit on the advisory panel for Actventure.
An offshoot of Dubai business group Najibi, Sanad Capital is a privately owned development and investment company.
The company intends to facilitate a diverse range of community-based and family-friendly projects in the development, by tapping into significant reserves of capital, years of relevant experience and the know-how of its executives.
All the three members were appointed by Sanad Capital’s board of directors, and will serve a three-year, renewable term.
On the appointments, Sanad Capital CEO, Bradley P. Sutherland, said: "We are very excited about these three outstanding individuals joining our advisory panel, who are exceptional leaders and experts in their respective fields."
As Thinkwell Group’s CEO Zenas is responsible for leading the direction of the company as well as new growth opportunities, corporate strategies, strategic alliances and intellectual property partnerships.
From the magical world of Harry Potter to the historical Smithsonian Institution, his leadership has been instrumental in building Thinkwell’s reputation for masterfully dealing with some of the world’s most cherished brands and intellectual properties.
Prior to Thinkwell, Zenas worked as the producer and director of Universal Studios Creative Studio, a Producer for Walt Disney Entertainment & Disneyland.
Sutherland said as president & CEO of WhiteWater, Chutter leads 11 operating business units, over 650 full time employees and 20 international offices worldwide.
WhiteWater is the largest designer of waterparks globally, and the largest supplier of waterpark products in the world, with over 125 patents and over 100 awards including the BC and Canada Export Awards and the Best Managed Canadian Companies Award.
Chutter’s lengthy global experience in the waterpark industry adds exceptional vision to Sanad Capital for the waterpark in Stage I of Actventure, he stated.
On Fredrik, Sutherland said as the founder and managing partner of Mereha, he provides strategic advice throughout the full hospitality lifecycle.
Fredrik has dedicated his career with leading development and real estate companies, international hotel operators and independent hotels. As senior vice-presidnet of Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and head of Asset Management Hospitality he established and lead the hospitality asset management division, including among others the prestigious Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Mandarin Oriental New York and had oversight of the strategic implementation and development of 10 pipeline hotels of approximately 2.500 keys.
“As we move into the construction phase of Actventure, Joe, Geoff and Fredrik’s expertise will add to the success of bringing a first-of-its-kind destination to the country,” remarked Sutherland.
Sanad Capital, he said, has already submitted its application for approval to start bulk earthworks, to the Sunshine Coast Council. Furthermore, the company has put together a short list of companies from within the Sunshine Coast to start a bidding process for the work.
“Naming our ‘Power’ Advisory Panel comes at a time when we are gearing up to begin the construction phase,” remarked Sutherland. “We aim to start Bulk Earth Works as soon as we receive this approval from Sunshine Coast Council,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service