Ian Redmayne joins Buro Happold to grow Middle East business

Former Atkins Managing Director Ian Redmayne has joined Buro Happold as a Saudi-based Partner. Ian will be based in our Riyadh office to drive growth within our Saudi Arabia business.

Ian brings over 30 years of regional and global experience to his new role. He has spent the last decade working in the Middle East, predominately in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where he led the delivery of several world class projects, including King Abdulaziz International Airport and Riyadh Metro. As a Buro Happold Partner, Ian will manage our existing clients and develop our operations across the KSA by fostering new relationships.

Attracting new talent

Ian’s passion is rooted in talent development. During his time at Atkins, he established the Riyadh Academy to train and develop Saudi nationals in engineering and project management. Ian intends to use his expertise in this area to draw in local talent to further strengthen Buro Happold’s engineering, consultancy and advisory services.

Buro Happold has a fantastic reputation in Saudi Arabia, which is what has attracted me to become a Partner. I am excited to be working alongside world-class experts with such a passion for innovative, sustainable design. I have witnessed a huge transformation in KSA over the last decade, and I feel honoured to be able to continue to be part of the country’s journey to deliver its 2030 vision.

Ian Redmayne, Partner and Saudi Arabia Country Director, Buro Happold

An exceptional leader

Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Bruce said of the announcement, “We are incredibly proud of our legacy in Saudi Arabia. Since our Riyadh office first opened in 1983, we have delivered some truly transformative and inspirational projects across the country that demonstrates the extraordinary talent of our experts.”

Having an exceptional leader like Ian join the team is a real privilege. We are delighted to have him on board as we further expand our global offering.

James Bruce, Chief Executive Officer, Buro Happold

Ian’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for our business, and it forms a central part of our global growth strategy. When James was appointed as Buro Happold’s CEO in May 2021, he unveiled his ambitious plans to double the business from 2,000 to 4,000 employees in six years. This will be achieved through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships in key regions across the globe, including Saudi Arabia.

Since 1983, Buro Happold has been involved in the delivery of many iconic projects across Saudi Arabia, including the Haramain High-Speed Rail, Samba Bank HQ and King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture.