Donna Sultan has been CEO of KEO since 1991, and became President and CEO in 2016. Donna’s leadership has been integral to the firm’s expansion and becoming one of the leading firms in the region. She has fostered and developed the firm’s renowned brand known for design innovation, technical excellence, sustainability practices, local knowledge, and global insights, gaining the highest levels of client confidence and industry respect. In fact, KEO is currently ranked the #1 Firm in the Middle East for four consecutive years and the top 20 non-US PM/CM firms for 20 consecutive years by Engineering News-Record.
Under her guidance, KEO has diversified to offer a full range of services, including multi-disciplinary project management, architecture, engineering, and sustainability and digital advisory consultancy. Her strategic vision has also led to the establishment of specialized Allied Practices: InSite, C-Quest, and Black Mule, providing master planning and landscape architecture, cost consultancy, and real estate advisory services respectively. KEO has evolved from a single office to ten offices across the Middle East and Europe, employing 2,600+ staff.
Her career spans over 40 years of project delivery experience, during which time she has received numerous awards acknowledging her significant contributions to the industry and navigating KEO as one of the leading consulting firms globally. The latest of which include being listed as #4 in the 2024 CW Power 150 list, Most Influential Consultants; by Forbes Middle East annually including in 2023 as one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen; listed in 2024 as one of the 50 top Women Leaders by Arabian Business; and in 2023 CEO of the Year by CEO Middle East-Property Consultants.
The past year has been a year of further growth and accomplishments for the KEO group. Under Donna’s leadership, KEO, together with its branded Allied Practices, achieved various notable milestones that underscore the success of its brand. commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. KEO group achieved 23% growth in revenues and continued its global expansion. The KEO group opened a new Design and Engineering Hub in Aman, Jordan, and expanded its footprint in Europe by opening its 2nd office in Portugal, in Lisbon. A strategic move that enhances its presence and capabilities in the European market.
Over the last 12 months, KEO has seen a 40+% increase in revenues year on year from the Saudi Market. Similarly, a 40+% increase in the number of staff in the country in the same period reflects our intent to grow that market significantly. The KEO Group has successfully been awarded numerous new contracts on several giga projects including for Rua Madina, Murabba, NEOM, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate Development, and Roshn. During this same period, the KEO Group has signed multiple Framework Agreements for different streams of services and with different KSA entities.
Within the past year, the KEO group has completed many key projects and achieved significant milestones on major ongoing developments across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, where, for example, KEO oversaw the substantial completion of infrastructure works for the MASAR mega project in Mecca. In the UAE, KEO serves as a consultant to the top property developers on major high-end projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Recognizing the growing importance of digital transformation, Donna guided the establishment of KEO-DAS (Digital Advisory Services), focused on continuing adaptation of disruptive technologies within the KEO Group and offering a comprehensive range of digital advisory services. Thus, positioning the company at the forefront of technological innovation in the construction sector. Within the past twelve months, KEO has been awarded as Digital Design Organization of the Year and Digital Construction Innovator of the Year.
KEO, under Donna’s leadership, has a deep commitment to corporate social responsibility initiatives and Gender Equality and Diversity policies as part of its DNA. It has an impressive formal program of ongoing initiatives that include pro-bono services to CURE.org, which operates children’s hospitals, and extensive community engagement activities in all the markets it serves. Last year saw the launch of KEO Academy a paid post-graduate program that opened its first branch in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, KEO has a very active and comprehensive “KEO Core Health Wellness Program” focussed on the well-being of its staff.
KEO’s key achievements and initiatives in the last twelve months highlight KEO’s leadership in the consultancy industry and its commitment to making a positive impact on its clients, communities, and the environment. Under Donna’s leadership, KEO has built a culture of shared success. Investing in its employees, developing team environments committed to excellence, responsibility towards community, health and safety, diversity and inclusiveness, and building a visionary future.
Donna’s focus for the future is that KEO continues to foster a culture that values collaboration and creativity, believing that KEO must, at its core, be a creative enterprise. The leadership team of KEO continues to empower employees to bring their best ideas forward and to provide an environment where creative growth can flourish. Other goals for the future include staying committed to continuing to grow in a sustainable and organic manner while having a positive impact on the communities KEO serves. Driving more diversity of services and innovation, expansion of Digital Advisory Services, continuing to invest in cutting edge technologies, and the expansion of KEO Academy to other GCC countries.