Ahmed Hussein
Chief Operating Officer

Ahmed Hussein is TDIC’s Chief Operating Officer responsible for supporting executive management in the achievement of the company’s operational objectives and targets.

Ahmed Hussein, a UAE National, is also Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which is TDIC’s sole shareholder, responsible, in particular, for the marketing and events divisions.

A graduate in Programming and Systems Analysis, Ahmed Hussein began his career as a technical assistant in the Reservoir Engineering Division of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company later being promoted to Computer Systems Administrator.

Ahmed Hussein was later seconded to Emirates Media, Inc., a leading broadcaster and publisher based in Abu Dhabi, where he served on both the Technical Committee as well as the Structure and Planning Committee. He was heavily involved in establishing the company’s Graphics Department and Abu Dhabi Television’s News Centre, where he headed a staff of 140 media and technical professionals.

Ahmed Hussein’s relationship with Emirates Media, Inc. has also seen him serve as Head of the Art Centre, Director of Technology & Technical Services and continues to this day as he is Director of Investment. During this relationship, Ahmed Hussein has played significant roles in the development of broadcast brands for the company, new technology implementation and the identification of new revenue streams.

Alan Gordon
Executive Director- Marketing and PR

“As custodian of the TDIC brand, I ensure that we continue to develop our corporate image in line with Abu Dhabi’s vision. My priority is to project TDIC’s reputation and diverse projects, locally and internationally, through a highly effective marketing and communications strategy.”

Alan Gordon, a Scottish national, joined TDIC in June 2006. He brings with him 22 years of marketing, event management and public relations experience 14 out of which have been spent working in the Middle East.

Prior to joining TDIC, he worked for Al Futtaim Group, one of the UAE’s leading trading companies, where he oversaw group marketing and communications and supported blue chip brands such as Dubai Festival City, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Hertz, IKEA, Marks & Spencer, Panasonic and Global Village, a premier culture and entertainment destination. Alan has held senior management positions, within a number of marketing and advertising agencies.
Alan´s previous role as corporate communications manager within the Gearhouse Group, an international events company, saw him working throughout Europe, South Africa, USA and Australia.

His memberships have included the International Association of Amusement Parks and Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He is presently a member of the Urban Land Institute, the international non-profit real estate organisation. Alan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in design and communication from the UK’s Grays School of Art. He is also a marketing lecturer and Dean of the Event Management Development Institute in Dubai.

Alan is married and enjoys various sports including tennis, rugby and golf. His passion for riding motorbikes recently led him to take on more challenging hobbies including motor boating. He also enjoys painting and sketching caricatures in his free time.
 

Mark Facey
Director – Legal Services 

“TDIC is a company committed to quality: in our projects, our partners and our commercial arrangements. I am dedicated to offering timely, practical, legal and commercial solutions to help realise that commitment.”

Mark Facey has over 20 years experience working as a lawyer and investment banker on a full spectrum of projects, ranging from commercial and residential developments to schools, hospitals, prisons, toll roads, airports and sports stadiums.

Mark joined TDIC in July 2006 having previously worked as general counsel at Baulderstone Hornibrook, one of Australia’s largest building and civil engineering contractors and the company responsible for Sydney’s famous Opera House. At Baulderstone, Mark negotiated legal and commercial aspects of many major developments and advised on their financial arrangements, risk allocation and delivery structures, particularly for privately financed build-own-operate-transfer and public-private-partnership deals.

He worked as an investment banker at ANZ Investment Bank, focussing on project finance transactions and was involved in the development of the stadium that hosted the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He has also worked at top tier Australian law firms Allens Arthur Robinson and Blake Dawson Waldron.

Mark was admitted as solicitor to the Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute, the international non-profit research and educational organisation catering to real estate professionals. He holds a bachelor of law (Hons) degree from Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Mark dedicates most of his free time to his wife and chasing after his young son. He enjoys exercising, especially rowing a single scull (badly) off the UAE’s beautiful shores.

Stuart Magee
Executive Director - Project Delivery 

“My core responsibility is to deliver our product portfolio on time, on budget and to the highest quality standards ensuring a safe working environment.”

Stuart Magee has been an influential player in the UAE’s development scene having lived and worked in the country since 1992.

A Scottish national, Stuart started out as a project and construction manager at Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke, a Dubai-based subsidiary of UK infrastructure development and management group John Laing International, handling a diverse portfolio of projects – from the landmark Dubai World Trade Centre to five-star hotel properties. He was later appointed as proposals and bid manager where he was involved in mega developments such as Dubai’s multi-million dollar Old Town development.

Stuart also worked as development manager at Al Futtaim Investments and was involved in the initial start up of Dubai Festival City where he managed the design of developments such as the Robert Trent Jones II championship golf course, flagship showrooms for major European and Japanese car manufacturers and an IKEA mega store. The scale of this project and the challenges it represented provided an excellent learning and exciting career development opportunity.

Stuart and his wife have travelled extensively and enjoy a very sociable lifestyle. He is keen on sports fishing, exercising and motorbike riding. Stuart is building a house in Russia and is currently learning the country’s Slavic language. He holds a Higher National Diploma in building management from Bell College of Technology, Scotland and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Kier Riemersma
Director of Real Estate Services

“Professionalism above all else is what has allowed TDIC to be successful. My goal is to ensure that every investor and customer we work with understands that only when they achieve their objectives will we reach ours.”

Kier Riemersma, from the US state of Colorado, has been part of TDIC’s founding team responsible for the company’s rapid growth and development. Originally trained as an urban planner, he currently directs the company’s considerable sales effort generating over US$4.6 billion in transactions on behalf of the company.

Prior to joining TDIC, Kier was the director of Waterfront Development at Dubai Properties where he drew on his background in urban planning to oversee the planning and development of several large scale urban waterfront developments. He also has extensive experience in corporate real estate where as a senior advisor at Liberty-Greenfield Real Estate Advisors in Denver, Colorado, he bought and sold office campuses for multinational companies such as AT&T, Blue Shield and Google.

Kier has a deep knowledge of African history and has travelled, worked and studied extensively on the continent. He speaks Kiswahili, an East African language, and is an avid outdoorsman. His interests have lead him to undertake dhow expeditions in the Lamu Archipelago off the coast off Kenya, where he has spent much time learning traditional fishing techniques as well as hiking through the Ruwenzori Mountains of Uganda in search of Bugandan cyprinid fish.

He holds a master’s in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master of international studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor of arts in creative writing from Pitzer College in Claremont California.

James Pringle
Executive Director, Development

“I take pride in building TDIC’s development programme which reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader vision and mission. While developing our diversified portfolio, I ensure our projects reflect the vision of our leadership and economic sustainability.”

James Pringle is very much intertwined in Middle East culture having spent more than half of his 35-year career based in the region. This experience has given him a unique insight into TDIC’s challenges and ambitions. From the US state of Minnesota, James possesses diversified international experience with leading firms working in the fields of construction, engineering, development and marketing.

James has worked for several prominent organisations including Kuwait’s M.A. Kharafi Group as a senior counsellor for development. He has worked for Bechtel as vice president for global business development and also a director of business development for its hotel, theme park and urban development business groups across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. He also served as vice president for Europe and the Middle East of the US construction and engineering company Morrison Knudsen.

He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the US-Arab Council on Foreign Relations and of the Urban Land Institute, the international non-profit real estate organisation. James was the chairman, vice-chairman and board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and was previously head of the Tourism Group for Egypt’s International Economic Forum.

He is married with two sons – one is a lawyer in New York and the other a sales executive in Cairo, Egypt. James’ hobbies include skiing, hiking and exploring old cities and antiquity sites. He enjoys reading, studying and listening to all types of music.
 
James graduated in economics and international relations from the University of Minnesota, and has completed graduate studies in business and finance at the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) in Fontainebleau, France.

Leon Geldenhuys
Director of Human Resources

“People are at the heart of our organisational structure. It is my role to recruit, retain and develop the highest performance staff to meet our business objectives. Fostering a collaborative internal culture is also a key part of my role.”

Leon Geldenhuys, a South African, has more than 18 years experience   of human resource management and became involved with TDIC in December 2005. His experience as an HR specialist was gained across several industries including engineering, construction, HR consulting and real estate development.

During his experience in South Africa, Leon worked in the construction and engineering industry specialising in HR management, industrial relations and the sensitisation of corporate culture. He came to the Middle East in 1998 to work with the multinational engineering company Chicago Bridge & Iron as an HR manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He later successfully founded and directed an HR consulting practice in the UAE prior to joining TDIC.

Leon is a founding member of the South African Business Council and remains actively involved in the group’s activities.

He is married with two girls and dedicates most of his free time to his family. He is passionate about cars and likes off-road driving in the Arabian desert. He also enjoys travelling with his family to various destinations, especially where steam engines are part of the journey.

He graduated with a Bachelors of Arts majoring in psychology and industrial sociology from the University of Potchefstroom in South Africa.

Wallace Long
Director - Finance

“In order to meet TDIC’s business objectives, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive financial plan and manage internal financial controls. It is also my responsibility to provide accurate reporting and monitor our company’s financial performance.”

Wallace Long, an American citizen, joined TDIC in 2008 and brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the real estate development industry, offering financial management to entities across many segments of the business.

Wallace graduated with a political science degree from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and later obtained an MBA with concentration in accounting and finance from the University of Texas in Austin.

Wallace launched his career as a Certified Public Accountant in the audit practice of Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) in Houston, Texas. He later went on to hold senior financial management positions in various commercial and hospitality development sectors spanning multinational companies such as Marriott, Hilton and Starwood. His recent experience centred on launching timeshare divisions for large US hoteliers serving as division controller for Marriott Vacation Club International.

Wallace is a big fan of outdoor activities and enjoys fishing, camping and boating with his wife and three children.

“When it comes to TDIC’s project designs, there is no compromise on quality. In this regard, it is my role to ensure each and every product design is practical, operational and commercially feasible and that all participants share our passion.”

Edward McHardy moved from his Scottish homeland to the UAE 15 years ago bringing with him vast architectural experience which spans a list of blue chip clients and distinctive projects – from luxury hotels and restaurants to sport stadiums and shopping centres.

As design manager for the engineering consultancy WS Atkins, Edward was actively involved in managing the design and construction of the world’s tallest hotel, Burj Al Arab. He has also contributed to numerous major developments in the UAE hospitality sector working with international hotel chains such as Jumeirah International, Fairmont and Starwood. He also managed an Italian interior design and fit-out company involved in hospitality, residential and commercial projects across the Middle East.

Throughout his 26-year career, Edward has been recognised for some of his remarkable achievements including a commendation for an art gallery design competition from Aberdeen District Council in Scotland. On the whole, he has been instrumental in managing the design of several major projects – from the concourse of Dubai International Airport to the redevelopment of British Telecom’s corporate offices in the northeast of Scotland.

Edward has been a member of the Urban Land Institute since he joined TDIC in June 2006. He holds a BSc (Hons) in architecture and a diploma in advanced architectural studies from the UK’s Robert Gordon University. He is also a member of the Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Balancing family life with work is a top priority. Edward has been married to Joan since 1981 and both of his children reside in the Middle East. His son, Christopher, is a captain flying out of Dubai and his daughter Claire is a film producer and editor with a Dubai-based media group. In his spare time, Edward enjoys playing golf.

“As Abu Dhabi evolves to become an aspiring cultural capital on the international scene, my role is to drive TDIC’s cultural programme in line with the AD cultural vision. We are implementing cross-cultural activities, engaging the community in our cultural initiatives and fostering better awareness of our artistic projects.”

Rita, a Lebanese national, has more than 17 years experience in the cultural, educational and arts fields, and has considerable expertise in conducting and organising verbal and non-verbal communication workshops, artistic events, directing theatre plays and participating in international performing arts festivals. 

Prior to joining TDIC in September 2006, Rita worked with several government organisations that focus on culture, the arts and education in Lebanon, France and the UAE, including ministries, embassies and theatres. 

She has participated in numerous international theatrical festivals, and works closely with cultural institutions to develop content and operational strategies in the Arab region. Rita is committed to adapt international best practice to Abu Dhabi’s specific requirements and to enhance the emirate’s artistic identity. She is a member of the Al Ain Music Committee in the UAE, and previously on the art committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture’s National Centre of Research and Pedagogy.

Rita holds degrees in journalism, communications and mass media, French literature and educational theatre. She has participated in training at major cultural institutions in France, China, the USA and Italy.
 
Rita has been living with her husband in Abu Dhabi since 1999. She has a fascination for the arts whether its theatre, literature or music. She also enjoys winter sports, particularly skiing. 

“My mission is to provide round-the-clock technology services to our stakeholders in order to facilitate their business requirements. It is my ambition to support the growth of our business through information technology, strategy and tactics.”

Nick van der Walt, a South African, launched his career 16 years ago in software development and gradually evolved his expertise in planning, developing and implementing cutting-edge solutions to address growing business opportunities.

His experience includes managing IT infrastructure of leading communication groups in South Africa, such as Vodacom, which provides services to over 39 million people, and the global company Motorola.

While employed as the regional information systems manager at the engineering, procurement and construction company Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI), Nick’s biggest challenge was facing the constraints of varying working cultures across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He created valuable opportunities in Africa by initiating training programmes, aligned the company’s global satellite communications with information strategies and successfully managed a multimillion dollar IT budget for the Eastern hemisphere – all while implementing an organisational infrastructure to facilitate communication throughout CBI.

Nick studied computer data processing at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.

He discovered ice skating at the age of three, and later participated in top international competitions with the South African national ice skating team. Although he has introduced the sport to his two daughters, he recently developed a passion for fly fishing and quad bike endurance racing.