Lever steps down from Dubai-based Al Naboodah Construction after 30 years

Ex-head of Al Fara'a Group's contracting arm, Colin Timmons, to take over next month

Al Naboodah’s construction operation has more than 13,000 employees. Courtesy Al Naboodah Construction Group

Al Naboodah Construction Group has announced that its chief executive, Steve Lever, is set to retire next month after spending 30 years at the company.

Mr Lever, who oversaw the growth of Al Naboodah’s construction operation into a business with more than 13,000 employees, will be replaced as chief executive by Colin Timmons. Mr Timmons joined Dubai-based Al Naboodah Construction Group as chief operating officer in March this year after a five-year spell as general manager of Abu Dhabi-based Al Fara’a Group’s construction arm.

Al Naboodah Construction said that Mr Lever will remain with the company for a period to ensure a successful handover, and will continue in an advisory capacity next year, as well as overseeing work in Qatar and managing some key clients.

Paul O’Flaherty, the chief executive of parent company Al Naboodah Group Enterprises, said: “Under Steve’s leadership, the group has positioned itself as one of the most recognised and trusted construction firms in the region.”

He added that Mr Timmons had “been at the forefront of the global construction industry for many years”.

“His leadership and vision will see the group continue to achieve the strategy laid out by Steve.”

Meanwhile, Dubai-based fit-out contactor Depa has announced the appointment of Ibrahim Belselah as group chairman, following the recent departure of former chairman Mohamed Al Fahim, who also recently stepped down from the board of contractor Arabtec, which owns a 24 per cent stake in Depa.

Mr Belselah, who joined the company’s board last month, had previously been executive chairman of Damas International as well as providing counsel to investment banking firm Rothschild Group and to commodities trader Trafigura.

Mr Belselah said: “Depa is a company with a proud history and a promising future, and I am delighted to be appointed as its chairman.”

Depa Group, which is listed on Nasdaq Dubai, reported a Dh266 million loss for 2015 as turnover dropped by 15 per cent to Dh1.64 billion. It blamed a “challenging year”, but said it had made progress in cutting costs and strengthening its underlying business.

In April, Depa announced the appointment of former Leighton Contractors boss Hamish Tyrwhitt as its new chief executive.