Born out of ASGC Group, with more than 35 years experience delivering some of the world’s most iconic buildings and best-known real estate developments, Innovo is a fully integrated global business operating across all facets of the built environment.
Headquartered in the UK, with a team of highly experienced and dedicated people across four continents, Innovo offers a wide range of services from construction, engineering and real estate development, to infrastructure financing, project management and international procurement.
While maintaining our reputation for impeccable project delivery, an exceptional health and safety record and unrivalled customer service, Innovo is committed to introducing smart technology and innovative sustainability practices to positively disrupt the traditional sectors we operate in, and in doing so further help our clients achieve their goals and ambitions. We are also committed to delivering social value to the all the communities we are active in around the world.
Read more about our key commitments here
Lord Philip Hammond
Chairman & Non-Exec. Board Director
Lord Philip Hammond is Chairman of the Board of Innovo.
Philip has had a distinguished career in British politics as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2019. He held a range of senior cabinet posts, most recently serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019. Prior to that, he served as Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, Defence Secretary from 2011 to 2014 and Transport Secretary from 2010 to 2011.
As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip focused on the long-term productivity challenges facing the UK economy and was a strong advocate for the Financial Services industry and the fast-growing Fintech sector. In particular, he championed the cause of SMEs and the need for greater access to long-term growth capital to allow successful British start-ups to scale up in the UK, rather than seeking capital overseas.
Before entering Parliament, Philip had a wide-ranging business career, spanning the house-building and property, healthcare equipment, and oil and gas sectors.
Philip studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University College, Oxford, and was made a life peer by HM Queen Elizabeth II in July 2020.
Bishoy Azmy
Founder & CEO
Bishoy has been with Innovo from its inception and is the driving force behind Innovo’s core principle of harnessing the smartest technology and innovative sustainability practices to create positive disruption across the traditional construction and real estate sectors.
Prior to Innovo, Bishoy worked for ASGC Group, spending close to 20 years there, the last ten of which as CEO.
Bishoy’s belief in the value of continuous education and the need to keep updating an organisation is demonstrated by his commitment to the ongoing improvement of employee safety and wellbeing, and his focus on having a positive impact on the communities Innovo operates in and the environment in general. All of which contributes to Innovo’s ability to continue to generate significant value for shareholders.
Bishoy sits on several boards, including serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for The American University in Cairo (AUC) and sitting on the board of one of the UK's leading infrastructure firms, Costain plc.
Bishoy holds a BSc in Construction Engineering from AUC, an MSc in International Construction Management from the University of Bath, an EMBA from London Business School and is a graduate of Harvard Business School.
Mei Chen
Non-Exec. Board Director
Mei is an independent non-executive director on the board of Innovo.
Currently director and head of fashion and luxury at Alibaba Group, Mei joined the Chinese conglomerate in 2015 as an early employee in the globalisation team. During her time in this role, Mei led the company’s international expansion and defined the group's strategy in Europe.
More recently, Mei has been instrumental in the creation of Alibaba’s ecommerce luxury offering and ecosystem, partnering leading international luxury businesses and fashion houses.
Additionally, Mei leads international operations for Alibaba's annual flagship fashion and luxury events and conferences, including the Tmall Collection and Taobao maker festival, among others.
Prior to Alibaba Group, Mei was a long-time Googler, having worked in the sales and marketing teams at Google’s Europe HQ, as well as on the global sales excellence strategy and mobile monetisation teams at Google’s Global HQ in Mountain View, USA.
Mei’s entrepreneurial journey started more than 18 years ago in Spain where she founded several startups in areas as diverse as education, construction and online marketing. In her spare time, Mei advises founders and CXOs on a variety of topics including online marketing strategies, monetisation and international expansion.
Juergen Maier CBE
Juergen is a non-executive director on the board of Innovo, bringing with him 33 years’ experience at industrial manufacturing conglomerate, Siemens.
Juergen’s last role at Siemens was CEO of Siemens UK, having joined the company in 1989, spending a number of years in Germany as well as the UK.
Juergen is a prominent figure within the UK’s industrial and manufacturing community. He is currently Chairman of Digital Catapult, Vice-Chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and is the co-founder of vocL, a platform which seeks to empower business leaders.
He also works closely with the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University as a visiting Professor and is an advocate for the digitalization of the UK manufacturing sector and the green re-industrialization of northern England.
Juergen’s other appointments include being an honorary professor of Engineering at the University of Manchester, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the City & Guilds Institute.
Juergen has a BSc in Production Engineering from Nottingham Trent University.
Neil Martin
Neil Martin is a Non-Executive Director on the board of Innovo. Prior to this he was Chief Executive Officer, Europe, at Lendlease, a globally integrated real estate group.
Neil was with Lendlease for more than 25 years and has worked in both Europe and Australia. He originally trained as a site engineer with Bovis before completing a law qualification at Chester College of Law. Once qualified he joined the legal team at Lendlease rising to General Counsel for Europe before transferring to Sydney to take on the role of Group Head of Risk and Insurance. No longer a practicing lawyer, Neil held several leadership roles at Lendlease, including Managing Director of Construction for Europe, and Chief Operating Officer, Europe.
Abdulaziz Bin Shafar
Board Director
Abdulaziz Mohamed Bin Shafar is a board director of Innovo.
Currently CEO of ASGC Group, Abdulaziz began his career at ASGC in 1998 as a site engineer, working his way through the business until 2004 when he joined the Dubai International Financial Centre as a client representative and construction manager.
In 2006, he returned to ASGC as vice president and executive director of the company, taking over the reins as CEO in 2021 and spearheading the expansion of operations into Abu Dhabi and the development of the group’s real estate arm.
Abdulaziz oversaw ASGC's participation in Dubai Expo 2020 and the completion of some of the event’s most innovative and visually stunning pavilions including the Sustainability Pavilion, the Opportunity Pavilion and the World Majlis.
With 25 years’ experience in the construction industry both on the ground and in senior leadership roles, Abdulaziz brings strategic insight and deep knowledge of the sector to the Innovo board.
Abdulaziz has a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California and has completed the Senior Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. He is also on the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
Tom Tildesley
Chief Financial Officer
Tom leads our Finance, Tax and Treasury functions, as well as playing a key role in capital and resource allocation as we execute our growth and diversification strategy.
Prior to joining Innovo, Tom held senior finance roles in Vistry Group Plc, Imperial Brands Plc and Maersk Oil, delivering both finance transformations and supporting significant business growth during his tenures.
As a one-time founder member of BP Alternative Energy, Tom is returning to his commercial roots with Innovo by helping to scale up a multi-faceted entrepreneurial business across multiple geographies.
Tom holds a BA(hons) in Philosophy from King’s College, London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Kate Teh
Company Secretary
Kate is Innovo Global’s General Counsel and an officer of the company.
As a senior member of Innovo’s executive team, she reports to the board and shareholders, and has overall responsibility for corporate governance, risk and compliance, and regulatory affairs.
With a background in property, construction, M&A, media, digital and data, and having lived and worked in Australia, China and Europe, Kate is a highly accomplished international multi-disciplinary lawyer.
Her experience includes establishing one of the earliest foreign law offices in Shanghai, advising the Russian government as it transitioned from communism to capitalism, advising SOCOG on the Sydney Olympics, acting on an intergovernmental collaboration on satellite technology (AsiaSat II) for mobile voice and data transmission, and tackling the commercial, operational and regulatory hurdles prevalent in the rapidly evolving digital and data markets across the UK and Europe.
Kate joined Innovo following 14 years at Telegraph Media Group where she was Group Legal Director and Data Protection Officer. During her tenure, she was pivotal to the transformation of the Telegraph’s traditional print business into a leading multimedia news and data driven business.
Kate holds a double major BA and Bachelor of Laws (BA/LLB) in Economics and Japanese from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, and speaks Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and Hokkien.
Mariam Azmy
Chief People Officer
Mariam brings to our board 20 years’ experience in human resources, employee development and business management in the construction industry, having been Chief People Officer at ASGC Group from 2004.
At ASGC, Mariam was instrumental in supporting employee performance programmes and spearheading value-added opportunities.
Mariam has a passion for learning. She regularly participates in executive leadership programmes run by Harvard Business School and Cambridge Judge Business School, part of the University of Cambridge, among others. Mariam is also an active member of the Young Professionals Organisation and Entrepreneurial Organisation in the UAE.
Mariam holds a MA in International Human Resource Management from the University of Northampton, a post grad diploma in Human Resources Management, and a BA in Economics and Business Administration from the American University in Cairo.
Raouf Ezzat
CEO, Innovo International
As CEO of Innovo International, Raouf oversees the operations of our project management, infrastructure and civil works, and procurement and distribution teams.
With a track record of fostering enduring client, partner and supplier relationships, Raouf plays a pivotal role in supporting Innovo’s overall strategy, working closely with the senior leadership team to facilitate governance, finance and operations.
Prior to Innovo, Raouf joined ASGC Group in 2004 as a project engineer, subsequently working his way up through the business. His career highlights include being promoted to managing director and then Chairman of ASGC Egypt. Before joining ASGC, Raouf worked as a senior site engineer for a decade at Orascom, the publicly listed construction and engineering contractor.
Raouf has a BSc in civil engineering from Cairo University and is certified by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. He is also a member of the UAE's Society of Engineers.
Sameh Fam
CEO, Innovo Build
Sameh is the CEO of of Innovo Build, Innovo’s design and construction division, which provides sustainable and innovative construction services to clients globally.
With more than 30 years’ construction industry experience, Sameh has led the completion of some of the most high-profile, iconic and complex projects in the Middle East, and has earned trust throughout the region and beyond.
Sameh has built a reputation as a talented and innovative leader with an unwavering focus on achieving profitable growth and driving effective strategic partnerships. He is renowned for his attention to detail and dedication to excellence through timely, high-quality project delivery.
Prior to Innovo, Sameh worked in senior roles at ASGC Group for over 17 years. Under his leadership, the organisation was recognised for its achievements in the sector with several accolades including Contractor of the Year and Sustainable Contractor of the Year.
Sameh holds a MSc in Construction Project Management from Heriot-Watt University in the UK, and a BSc in Architectural Engineering from Cairo University.
Paul Woodman
CEO, Innovo Projects
Paul is CEO of Innovo’s capital projects business, which secures ECA-backed projects in developing markets, acting as a project aggregator, as well as an engineering, procurement, construction and financing contractor.
Paul joined Innovo after several years as COO of the international business of ASGC Group, helping to establish ASGC UK as a specialist infrastructure financing division among other high-profile successes.
Prior to ASGC Group, Paul was managing director of Kier International, the overseas division of the UK’s Kier Group, where he oversaw the group’s operations in the Caribbean, Middle East and Hong Kong.
During his 30-year career in the construction industry, Paul has organised export credit funding, supported by UK Export Finance (UKEF), for numerous construction contracts across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. In the Middle East and North Africa alone, Paul has been instrumental in arranging finance for over £3 billion of major building and infrastructure projects over the past decade.
Paul has an MBA from Aston University in the UK and is an active member of the British Business Group in Dubai.
Ibrahim Salib
CEO, Maplelands
Ibrahim is the CEO of Maplelands, Innovo's Canadian real estate development business.
He has more than 20 years’ experience in the construction sector, including extensive expertise in project management leading over £1.3 billion in developments across the Middle East and North Africa.
Ibrahim began his career in Egypt as a construction engineer at Orascom and later at Arab Contractors, before joining ASGC Group in the UAE in 2002. In the UAE, Ibrahim held several project management roles, overseeing a number of landmark developments in Dubai, including the Waldorf Astoria, Bluewaters Residences and the Golden Mile in Palm Jumeirah.
In 2014, Ibrahim was promoted to general manager of ASGC’s oil and gas division in Abu Dhabi, before relocating to Canada in 2019 to establish Innovo’s real estate development business under the Maplelands brand.
He has a BSc in Civil Engineering from Egypt’s Assuit University and a masters in Construction Project Management from Heriot-Watt University in the UK. He also has an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
Roger Wahl
Chief Technology Officer
Roger joined Innovo as group CIO in 2022 and is responsible for continuing to build our best-in-class technology and security disciplines, as well as driving Innovo’s wide-ranging digital transformation programme.
Roger is passionate about people and business transformation and has a particular interest in leveraging technology and data to drive environmental and social governance, as well as safety in the engineering and construction industry.
Roger comes to us with 30 years of tech leadership experience across continents, cultures and industries, both as a customer and service provider in both the public and private sector.
In his previous role, Roger led the digital transformation strategy for John Holland, a large Australian engineering and construction company, including core technology, data and analytics, process and automation, and emerging technology adoption.
Other prior roles include 20 years of progressive technology leadership in the United States Air Force, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project delivery at GE, and building a technology function for Genpact, a global engineering and construction company.
Roger has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA.
General Counsel & Company Secretary
Arsany Thabet
Managing Director
Arsany is the Managing Director of Innovo’s procurement and distribution division, which was established in 2021 to specialise in procurement and supply chain management initially in the UK and the Middle East.
Before Innovo, Arsany was an architect at ASGC Group before being promoted to a number of senior roles, including head of procurement and tendering, and latterly, commercial director.
Arsany has a BSc in Architectural Engineering from Ain Sham University and a masters in Construction Project Management from Heriot-Watt University in the UK. He is also certified by the Project Management Institute.
Ahmed Saleh
Ahmed is managing director of Innovo’s investment and venture capital arm, with over 13 years' experience in investments, private equity and venture capital across emerging markets.
Before joining Innovo in 2021, Ahmed was an investment director at Elsewedy Capital, focusing on investments in Africa. Ahmed began his career at Egypt-based private equity firm BPE Partners, before moving to international investment group Olayan as part of the private equity and venture capital team covering the Middle East, Turkey and India.
Ahmed holds a BA in Finance from the American University in Cairo.
Mohamad Gamal
Managing Director, Innovo Build Egypt
Based in Cairo, Mohamad Gamal is the Managing Director of Innovo’s design and construction business in Egypt.
Mohamad embarked on his career journey in the UAE as a structural engineer. Since then, he has amassed over 29 years’ experience working on numerous iconic projects across the Middle East.
With diverse experience at some of the most renowned companies in the region, Mohamad joined ASGC Group in Dubai as senior projects manager in 2015 and was promoted to projects director in 2017. In April 2023, he was appointed Managing Director of Innovo Build’s Egypt business.
Khaled Sharbatly
Khaled is the Managing Director of Innovo’s MEP design and construction division, which provides sustainable and innovative construction services in the Middle East.
With over 32 years’ experience in the construction industry, Khaled led the completion of some of the most high-profile, iconic and complex projects in the Middle East, building a reputation as a strategic and innovative leader.
Prior to Innovo, Khaled worked in senior roles at the ASGC Group for over 16 years, playing a major role in the business becoming one of the region’s leading MEP firms. Under his leadership, the organization was recognized for its many achievements in the sector and received multiple prestigious awards.
Rayan El Eid
General Manager
Rayan El Eid is the General Manager of Innovo Roads, Infrastructure & Marine Works, which provides solutions for critical infrastructure projects across the Middle East and North Africa region.
With 34 years of experience in the construction industry and having previously held prominent positions with the top construction companies, including ASGC, Rayan has achieved notable accomplishments throughout his career. These include successfully leading the project teams working on the Ruwais Housing Complex Expansion, the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, and the internal roads of Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi.
To provide the world’s best construction and real estate services for our clients, and in doing so enable a more sustainable future and a better way of life for the communities in the built environments we help create.
We are pioneers in the construction and real estate development sectors, using cutting edge technology to create real social value and protect the environment.
Sustainability is one of the core principles of our business. Who we are, how we operate and who we choose to partner with, are all guided by our commitment to managing climate change and leaving behind a viable planet for generations to come.
As a construction and real estate business, we recognise the impact our industry has had on the natural world. The built environment accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions and rapid urban development has led to decreased biodiversity and increased habitat loss. We are taking bold and decisive action, leveraging disruptive technologies, smart construction solutions and innovative design and engineering methods to deliver sustainable and resilient spaces, infrastructure and communities.
As an industry leader in the Middle East and North Africa, it is our ethical and social responsibility to drive decarbonisation efforts in the region. Our exceptional and dedicated team of people is continuously innovating and actively seeks out supply chain partners that share our values and prioritise the welfare of our planet. We also establish digital alliances to deploy technologies that enable us to build more sustainable assets.
In the UAE we are working towards achieving net zero by 2050 in line with the government’s commitment, playing an important role in the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy. We have set ambitious targets for ourselves in the areas of carbon reduction, waste reduction and sustainable procurement. To achieve this, we partner with certified and reputable consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to help build a sustainable and transparent supply chain. As a result, a large number of our completed projects are LEED certified and ESTIDAMA accredited.
In Canada we work with local contractors and suppliers to develop sustainable and durable residential properties, building more energy-efficient structures, partnering with geothermal energy contractors and adopting less resource-intensive building methods.
Through our work with export credit agencies we partner with ESG specialists and HSE auditors to monitor and report on our carbon emissions, resource consumption, and health and safety performance across the infrastructure projects we organise and manage . We adhere to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sustainable lending recommendations, the International Finance Corporation’s sustainability framework and the Equator Principles.
We are a purpose-driven business determined to serve the communities we operate in, deliver long-lasting and transformative social value, and improve the lives of those we work with.
For example, our capital projects and project management teams are reshaping the lives of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, delivering infrastructure projects, including large-scale road works, hospitals and factories, that will drastically improve the quality of life for local communities and create thousands of job opportunities.
The physical and mental wellbeing of our people, partners and stakeholders is of the utmost importance to us. We have an exemplary health and safety record, having won numerous awards and accolades for our worker welfare programmes. We are ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified and proud members of the British Safety Council.
We are developing a robust environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy in alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve this, we have partnered with a leading consultant to develop an holistic, sustainable business framework with a focus on lowering carbon emissions, measuring and increasing positive social impact, optimising health and safety conditions, and establishing strong auditing and reporting systems.
We are constantly on the look out for new, smart tech that not only makes clients’ projects faster and more efficient, but also enables more sustainable and cost-effective building methods.
Some of the smart tech we currently use includes:
BIM models that enable us to digitally manage project data, improve coordination and communication, mitigate risk and reduce cost.
Digital twin - digital replicas of physical entities – that enable us to correct design errors and prevent operational and safety risks.
IoT and connected sensors to remotely monitor sites and project performance, including wearable sensors that can capture real-time data on operating conditions, productivity levels and the health and safety of workers.
AI-powered project monitoring and computer visualisations, which enable us to predict and prevent operational, environmental and safety issues. AI also enables us to better monitor inventory from point of origin to delivery.