ChristopherWilkinsonManagingDirector, MESAhub infoworksQ2200909 INTERVIEW

10infoworksQ22009 INTERVIEW ChristopherWilkinsonManagingDirector, MESAHub Wehavebuiltupformidableresources, a solidreputationandanexcellentclient-base. Sowe'reconfidentthatthroughthe strategieswehaveinplaceandongoing workonprojectslikeAlRahaBeach, wewill remainpoisedtoseizetheopportunities thatemergeoutoftheeconomicrecovery. Intheshort- tomedium- termofcourse, we faceobviouschallenges. UpuntilNovember, intheMiddleEastinparticular, wewere growingdramatically. Clearlythatgrowth willstarttoslow. Ithinkinthenear- term we'llbeflat, butbythefirstquarterofnext yearwe'llstarttoseemoreprojectsrollout, withgrowthtofollow. Haveyouhadtoreshapework-winningefforts? Yes, absolutely. Upuntiltheautumnoflast year, 100% oftheworkintheMiddleEast waswononanegotiatedbasis. Wetended tobaseourwork- winningeffortsona partnershipapproach, andcouldaffordto bequitechoosyaboutthejobsandclients wetookon, becausetherewassomuch work. Butthatstoppedalmostovernight. Themarketisnowexclusivelybid- based. Someofthetenderscomingoutnow containveryunyielding, somewhat outdatedcontractualclauses, whichreally don'tsitwellwithourapproach. Sowe've reallyhadtoworkourwayaroundthis. Doesourmanufacturingcapabilityin theMiddleEastgiveusacompetitive advantage? Ithinkitdoesanywhereintheworld. Ourmanufacturingcapabilityisabsolutely fundamentaltoourcapacitytoget maximumvalueoutofourprojects. Itmeansmoreoftenthannot, wegetitright firsttime, everytime- leadingtogreater certaintyandsecurity, notjustforusbutfor ourclientsaswell. Wehavealong- standingmanufacturing capabilityintheMiddleEast, whichhas playednosmallpartinbuildingupthe excellentreputationfordeliverywenow enjoy. Inaregionrenownedforawe- inspiring developmentsbuiltatbreathtakingspeed, muchofwhatwehaveachievedwouldnot havebeenpossiblewithoutthepaceand predictabilitythatourmanufacturing businessesprovide. Thedegreeofconsistencyandqualitythat comeswithmanufacturingmeansyoucan pricejobsmuchmoreaccuratelyaswell. Toooftenwhenwepriceprojectswedon't accountformistakes. TaketheAtlantisHotelforexample. Webuilt everyoneofits1,539bathroomsina factoryandbrokejustatinypercentageof toiletsintheprocess. Ifwewereusing traditionalinsituinstallationmethodsthe figureswouldhavebeenmuch, much higher. Somanufacturinggivesusfar greatercontrolovercost. Ourrecentsafetyrecordhassuffered setbacks. Whatshouldwedoto ensureeveryonereturnshomesafely everyday? Constanttrainingandconstantvigilance. I thinkit'saboutmakingsurethateveryonein theorganisation- fromtoptobottom-understandstheparamountimportance ofsafety. Safetyiseveryone'spersonalresponsibility. Wecannotmakethesamemistaketwice. Wemustmakesurewenevercompromise onsafetyforanyreason. OurachievementlastmonthinAbuDhabi [ seepage22] isastunningtestamenttothe team'sunwaveringcommitmenttothis priority. EveryoneatAlRahaBeachshould beimmenselyproud. Whatthey accomplished[ 10millionhourswithouta reportablelost- timeincident] isexceptional, especiallyonaprojectofthisenormity. What'scriticalnowistoensurethereisno complacency; it'swhenyoutakeyoureye offtheballthataccidentshappen. Whatwouldyousaytosomeone consideringacareerinconstruction atthemoment? Goforit! Whatafantasticchallenge. You willwakeupeverydaywithahundredreal problemstosolve; thenwakeupthenext daywithahundreddifferentrealproblems tosolve. Thefunthingaboutconstructionisthat, as yougothroughyourdays, youfixproblems, thenaweekortwolateryouseethe tangibleresultsofyourefforts. Yousee structurescomingoutofthegroundthat you'veplayedapartincreating- andthat's veryrewarding. Whatmadeyouswitchfromlawto construction? EverythingI'vesaidtoday- the extraordinarychallenges, thefantastic legacy. WhenIpracticedlaw, attheendof adealorattheendofeachyear, allI'd havewasashelffullofpaper. Now, atthe endofmyyear, there'safoundationora projectthat'sgonefromearlyconceptto somethingrealandtangible- andIcansay I'veplayedapersonalpartinit. Whatkeepsyouawakeatnight? Themarket! AttheendofthedayI'm runningabusiness, sowhatkeepsa businessmanawake? Everything. butIstill loveit! " Inaregionrenownedforawe- inspiring developmentsbuiltatbreathtaking speed, muchofwhatwehaveachieved wouldnothavebeenpossiblewithout thepaceandpredictabilitythatour manufacturingbusinessesprovide." Atlantis, ThePalm, Dubai, UAE