Mace bolsters international presence with new UAE role

Mace, the global consultancy and construction company, has appointed Stephen Venney as its Country Director for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a newly created role.

Stephen joined Mace in 2016 and brings with him 17 years of UAE experience in project management into the role, working both as a contractor and client representative. Stephen has been helping Mace to redefine the boundaries of delivery for some of the most complex projects in the UAE.

Stephen located to the UAE in 2005 taking up a project management role for a leading contractor in Dubai for 10 years. He then took up a client-side delivery role with a leading developer in Abu Dhabi. During his time in the UAE, Stephen has played a leading role in delivering high-rise tower schemes and complex museum projects.

Since joining Mace, Stephen has led the organisation’s work on delivering project management services on the landmark mixed-use towers in Dubai, One Za’abeel. The two towers are connected by a record-breaking 225-metre, 9,400-ton cantilevered bridge known as ‘The Link’, which has required the collaborative effort from all project parties, being led by Stephen.

In the UAE, Mace is currently delivering the Dubai Opera District, Ain Dubai, One Za’abeel, Expo 2020 Dubai, Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi and Stella Maris, raising the bar in sustainability, quality, health and safety, worker welfare standards and impact on local communities.

Mace appoints Stephen at a time of growth and international expansion, with the company having stated bold 2026 targets in its business strategy.

Mark A Taylor, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

“Appointing Stephen as the Country Director for the UAE is a fantastic step forward as we look to grow and expand our service offering, across the Middle East and wider region. Stephen has been with Mace for just over five years and his experience tackling some of the region’s most complex and challenging projects and programmes, together with his technical background, will support Mace in redefining, adapting and innovating how projects are delivered in the future. Mace has always collaborated with our partners and supply chain in the UAE to shape record-breaking buildings, which ultimately requires the expertise and commitment of professionals like Stephen.”

Stephen Venney, Country Director for the UAE at Mace, said:

“I am delighted to take on a new role at Mace as Country Director of the UAE, helping the organisation to deliver distinctive value to its clients. I will lead the team in contributing to the UAE’s grand vision for a sustainable future and focus on innovation, through the successful delivery of complex projects and programmes. I look forward to working with our teams at such an exciting time for growth and international expansion for Mace.”