Faithful+Gould, an integrated project and programme management consultancy, has appointed Paul Sweeney as the new head of programme management for its 160-strong business in Saudi Arabia.

The integrated project and programme management consultancy has seen rapid growth in the kingdom, with its order book expected to grow by 15 per cent over the course of the next year.

Sweeney is new to the Middle East, joining Faithful+Gould from Aecom, where he performed a number of roles including head of project management and a director and partner in Davis Langdon in the UK, said a statement from the company.

With over 25 years of service, he brings a wealth of programme, project and operational experience into Faithful+Gould. His recent responsibilities included business unit and financial planning, performance and delivery, staff development and mentoring and business development amongst others.

Sweeney has considerable knowledge of major international PPP schemes in the healthcare and education sectors, having acted for both the promoting client and SPV/developer, which aligns with the Saudi government’s move towards alternative financing solutions squarely at the centre of the country’s Vision 2030 strategy, it stated.

Welcoming the appointment, Spencer Wylie, the Saudi country director, said: "The demand for our expert programme and project management services has risen exponentially, making this an opportune time for Sweeney to join us."

"His appointment further enables F+G’s growth strategy, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the wider region, aimed at ensuring we remain in a position to deliver the best possible solutions to our clients, supporting the delivery of their projects on time, to budget and to their quality aspirations," he noted.

Wylie pointed out that 2016/17 had been a great year for Faithful+Gould in Saudi Arabia as it had been signed up for a number of major transformational projects.

"We are providing programme management services for a mixed use and leisure development that is set to attract millions of domestic visitors; also we are cost managers on several super regional mall developments, and we have implemented a programme management office for the roll out of a countrywide fibre optic network," he noted.

"We are very excited to see what 2017/18 brings with Paul joining our existing team in country," he added.-TradeArabia News Service