Atkins has appointed Cris Dedigama as its new chief executive officer (CEO) for the Middle East and Africa region.
Dedigama moves from his position of executive vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Resources at Atkins’ owner SNC-Lavalin Group: a company he joined in 2015 as SVP, North Africa, Infrastructure before his move upwards in 2017.
He will be based in the UAE and tasked with leading the business’s end-to-end advisory, design and engineering and project management services under the Atkins Acuity, Atkins and Faithful+Gould brands, the firm explained in a statement. 
“For more than 50 years, Atkins has played an integral role in the Middle East and Africa regional transformation through world-class projects and global expertise delivered locally,” said Philip Hoare, president, Atkins. “Through his extensive experience in the infrastructure industry and deep knowledge of the region, Cris brings significant qualities which will enable us to continue cementing our business footprint and lead our future growth.
Dedigama has held senior leadership positions in the Middle East, Asia, India and Australia, and built a career in management and operations at ‘several’ large engineering and construction firms, “delivering complex projects, and expanding activities in the building, infrastructure, and oil and gas industries. He holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.”
