Donna Sultan has been CEO of KEO since 1991 and became President and CEO in 2016. Donna has over 45 years’ professional experience in the Middle East and has been ranked as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the Arab World, and one of the 12 Most Influential Businesswomen in the Gulf.
Donna has fostered and developed the firm’s renowned blend of design innovation, technical aptitude, sustainability principles, local knowledge and global insights. This has resulted in the highest levels of client confidence and industry respect.In fact, KEO is currently rankedthe #1 Firm in the Middle East by Building Design, in their annual World Architecture Survey 2023.
She has been awarded many accolades over the years, being named Construction Executive of the Year, Businesswoman of the Year as well asCEO of the Year at the Design Middle East Architecture Leaders Awards 2022.
Donna has personally overseen the firm’s continued success in Saudi Arabia, where in the last 2 years, full time staff have trebled, and project awards have doubled. Today, KEOis working from larger offices taking a prime location in Riyadh and has strengthened its senior leadership team.
Donna has spearheaded new training initiatives for local Saudi Engineers through the establishment of the ‘KEO Academy’. Launched in 2023, the goal of the KEO Academy is to train the next generation of Saudi Arabian architects, engineers, and construction leaders from KEO’s Saudi Arabia offices. Currently, there are over 250 trainees taking part.
Further goals Donna has set for the firm include a ‘digital first’ approach to design by embracing innovations in AI. KEO is now seen as a leader in technology as well as design prowess, with the firm achieving the remarkable title of ‘Digital Design Organization of the Year’, at this year’s Construction Technology Awards 2023.
Since her tenure as CEO, KEO’s impressive portfolio has grown to include finished or ongoing developments such as Emirates Palace and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, several World Cup Stadiums in Qatar, the Address Grand Creek Harbour in Dubai, the Kuwait Investment Authority headquarters, and many developments underway in Saudi Arabia.
Donna has expanded the business throughout her reign, starting with a handful of employees in the early 1990’s to over 2500 staff in 2023. Today KEO has 9 offices in 8 locations across the Middle East and Europe.