Perkins+Will, a global interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design company, has appointed Andrew Mowat, a qualified Scottish architect as its new operations director.

Mowat comes to Perkins+Will with over over two decades of experience, including nine years in the Middle East, where he has been involved with commercial, hospitality, medical, leisure and multi-use developments.

His local portfolio of projects includes: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition and Conference Centre, Capital Gate, Manarat Al Saadiyat Museum, The Heart of Doha, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, W-Hotel Palm Jumeirah and Al Madina A'Zarqa, formerly known as Blue City, said a statement from Perkins+Will.

A qualified Scottish architect, Mowat has a wealth of experience across architecture, people management and full business management. He has worked for top-tier consultancies including Aedas and RMJM, where he joins from as operations director for full Middle East operations.

His new role at Perkins+Will encompasses resourcing, finance, revenue and operations. He will report directly to managing director Roger Wilson.

Welcoming Mowat into the fold, Wilson said: "We are delighted to make this addition to Middle East operations. He comes to us with a wealth of experience across multiple end-market developments and also shares our passion for executing projects at the highest level."

"On a personal level, his dedication to driving efficiency and creative problem-solving makes him a perfect fit for our team. I am excited to see what we can achieve together, and I am sure he will motivate his team to further develop and meet targets," stated the top official.

On his new role, Mowat said: "I am excited to take on a new challenge at Perkins+Will, an industry leader in providing world-class design services across a multitude of end-markets and projects. I am looking forward to working with a forward-thinking and innovative team, and I am very much aligned with Perkins+Will’s vision and goals for the future."

"The opportunity to work for such a well-established company with a truly global feel was one that I jumped at. I am especially impressed with the company’s ability to take global best practice and convert it to local execution. The culture of collaboration is also one that strongly appealed to me. Perkins+Will maintains a client-focus so solutions address the challenges at hand, rather than being generic," he added.

In addition to this new role, Mowat also sits on the RIBA Gulf Chapter Committee as honorary treasurer and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbiters. Prior to relocating to the Middle East, he sat on the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Contracts and Appointments Committee.

As a member of the committee, Mowat examined legal and contract issues, commissioning fees, appointment agreement, insurance problems, dispute resolution and legislation, as well as monitoring the work of other industry bodies.

Originally from Scotland, Mowat began his professional studies in Aberdeen. Prior to moving to the UAE in 2009, he worked in the UK as a project director predominantly for major oil sector clients, such as Shell, British Petroleum and Halliburton. He lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife and teenage son.  

Mowat is optimistic about the region’s architecture industry moving forward. "While every industry has its challenges, I predict a very bright future for Perkins+Will and the industry as a whole," he noted.

"Ongoing and future projects in the pipeline represent some of the smartest and most innovative developments in the region, which is already known for its cutting-edge and boundary-pushing projects,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service