Professional Background

With a career spanning 35 years in the retail industry, David brings an unrivalled understanding of global retail real estate, portfolio management and retail business development.  With years of technical expertise and leadership skills, David is responsible for driving the MECSC / ICSC organization’s corporate vision in the MENA region.

The primary roles of the ICSC / MECSC are to enhance the members experience, to promote and facilitate the members retail business, to faciliate the growth of the retail real estate business and to raise the personal profiles of all retail professionals in the MENA region.

Present Role

As CEO of the MECSC / ICSC for the MENA region, the organization has grown now representing over 580 Shopping Centres. The MECSC has also grown its membership base by 54% under his leadership in the past three years to over 1000 members. Revenue and profitability of the MECSC has risen four (4) fold since taking over leadership of the organization.

Public Relations

David is a regular contributor to local and international newspapers and magazines with articles on topics associated with current retail industry trends, commercial real estate and residential property challenges and opportunities. He has appeared on BBC, Bloomberg, Dubai One, Dubai City 7 TV and Dubai Zee television as a retail property commentator in the MENA region. In radio, on Dubai Eye 103.8, David is regularly on air as the retail industry expert, property market commentator and guest.

A motivational speaker, David is also a lecturer on current property issues at international universities in Dubai and the Dubai School of Government. See links to TV and radio recordings below. In addition, he is a registered member of RERA in Dubai and member of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC).

Media Links

Dubai Eye: Jones Lang LaSalle

Youtube: Improving Retail in the UAE: The Outlook for Malls

Bloomberg: Retailers Target Dubai on Bet Mideast Shopping Oasis Won’t Fade

Al Arabiya: قطاع التجزئة يشكل 10% من الناتج الإجمالي عالمياً

Gulf News: Flat UAE retail sales expected in 2017

Associations

A Canadian, resident in the UAE for twelve years, David was Chairman of the Canadian Business Council in 2011, 2012 and 2013.  He is also a registered member of RERA in Dubai. David has held leading roles in the region with major shopping centre development companies and advisory firms before taking over in 2013 as the CEO of the MECSC.

Dubai Association Centre:

• Ambassador – Letter of Appointment – 2016
• Ambassador – Letter of Appointment – 2015