International project management and cost consultancy firm Thomas & Adamson has strengthened its UAE presence with senior promotions, new hires and the introduction of a strategic advisory service.

Established in 1935, Thomas & Adamson has been supporting the construction and commercial property sector for over 80 years through the challenges of procuring, delivering and operating built assets.  

In a major move, the company has named Rudolph Van Wyk as the new director, who will spearhead the company’s expansion plans whilst leading the cost management services across the Middle East.

Van Wyk brings a wealth of experience and has been instrumental in driving the business’ growth whilst delivering some of Thomas & Adamson’s most prestigious commissions over the past 12 months.

The UAE Cost Management team has been further strengthened by the promotion of Rayne Leonard, who has been elevated to the post of senior quantity surveyor, reflecting his commitment to delivering excellent services across a number of high profile projects for the business over the past three years.

The appointment of chartered quantity surveyor Thanushan Kailayapillai cements the team, bringing with him more than six years Middle East experience in a range of pre and post-contract roles.

Elsewhere, the firm’s project management team is also being bolstered by the appointment of David McIntyre to the role of senior project manager. An experienced construction professional, David has no fewer than 20 years construction industry experience spanning Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia.

Welcoming the appointments, Zander Muego, a partner at Thomas & Adamson, said: "This reflects our investment in the UAE business and commitment to continue the recent growth we have experienced across the Middle East."

“The hard work and dedication both Van Wyk and Leonard have demonstrated during their time at T&A has proven they are the right people to guide the business forward and we are delighted to strengthen our leadership team with them at the fore,” he added.

The introduction of the firm’s new strategic advisory service has seen the appointment of Andrew Mason to the Abu Dhabi office. A quantity surveyor by profession but a qualified arbitrator to trade, Mason is a well-known expert in the field of dispute resolution in the UK, US and Middle East.

He brings this experience to head up the new division, with an initial focus on helping existing client management teams make more strategic and quantified business decisions when conflict arises on real estate development projects.

Muego pointed out that the growth of structured dispute resolution processes in the UAE had been well documented, particularly with the new Federal Arbitration Law coming into force in recent months.

"While it is always preferable to avoid any form of dispute, the complex and bespoke nature of construction projects often does result in contractual issues. These issues often have significant time and cost implications, which can not only impact the project cashflows, but the viability of the development as a whole. Having Mason as part of our team is a significant development for Thomas & Adamson and will allow us to bolster our ethos of delivering the highest quality of service to our clients," he added.

The team will begin immediate work on a string of new contract wins, which includes the project and cost management of the first phase of a five-year redevelopment of the Al Wathba Prison and cost management for the Crown Prince Court’s activities to celebrate the UAE’s 47th National Day on December 2.-TradeArabia News Service