THE DESIGN,
DEVELOPMENT
& EXPERIENCE COMPANY

THE TEAM

We are a team of insatiably curious, imaginative and resourceful individuals, who are passionate about culture, design, place-making and experience creation. We are deeply compassionate, inspired by human values and united by our shared beliefs.

From futurists to change-makers, strategists to storytellers, we are a team of media-agnostic design thinkers and managers, deployed at the frontier of tomorrow’s most beautiful possibilities.

Our pulse races to conceive the new zeitgeist, while remaining true to our quest; to challenge what’s humanly possible, and never stop asking impossible questions.

Leadership Team

GAURAV SINHA

Chief Executive Officer

Gaurav is a thought-leader on destination design, development, place-making, branding and communication and has extensive experience in coding the narrative for some of the world’s most revered hospitality and tourism brands.

With over 29 years of global experience, Gaurav’s strategic and creative skills have allowed him to play an integral role in strategy and design initiatives for numerous clients, including global hospitality companies and numerous tourism boards.

MARK FIDDES

Chief Creative Officer

As joint Chief Creative Officer, Mark has over 30 years’ leadership on global creative direction with some of the world’s leading agency networks. He has worked at C-Suite level to drive the success of brands in luxury, hospitality, tourism, automotive and FMCG across all media channels. He has over 100 international creative awards and has twice been a juror at the Cannes Lions Festival.

For services to creativity and innovation, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts. He is also a poet with three international prize-winning collections.

MAX LUCCI

Chief Creative Officer

With over 25 years in the design, branding and integrated communications industry across Rome, London and New York, Max is an award-winning, passionate and dynamic senior creative thinker who works across different media.

Max is a conceptual designer and hands-on problem solver who understands the nuances of art, storytelling, brand strategy and architecture, ensuring complex narratives are developed and communicated in a simple and effective manner.

NAVID NIKNEJAD

Head of Strategy

Navid is a specialist in arts & culture strategy with 15+ years of in-industry and consulting experience. He has served as the Arts & Culture Director for two giga-projects in KSA; AMAALA and The Red Sea Project.

Navid also has several years of management consulting experience with top tier firms such as Strategy& (PwC) having led key projects in the Middle East.

GHALIB MAMDANI

Chief Development Officer

Ghalib is a Real Estate Development Executive who has worked globally on projects across the United States of America, Northern and Southern Africa, and the Middle-East. He brings a diverse background and a proven track record of success.

He shares his 25 years of experience and extensive knowledge and approach when evaluating, managing, developing and acquiring real estate. Ghalib serves as the Chief Development Officer and is focused on the planning, design and construction of various high-profile projects, new acquisitions, and strategic Real Estate Advisory.

Executive & Senior Directors Team

RACHEL BERRY

Head of Client Development

Rachel Berry has been fortunate to work in regional and global environments that have inspired her passion for brand and creative strategy.

Rachel has held senior positions in both agency and client roles, most recently as Group Director of Brand Strategy at Jumeriah Group before joining Insignia. This has provided her with a robust strategic methodology that advocates for the importance of both creative input as well as pragmatic output.

HEMA KHATRI

Executive Director – Projects & Operations

Hema has over 16 years experience in project management, planning and execution.

During her time at Insignia, Hema has naturally progressed to an Executive Director’s role, in which she is able to apply her keen eye for detail, pragmatic project management, critical thinking and strategic planning expertise to deliver complex projects across global luxury hospitality, lifestyle and F&B brands, tourism and destination development projects.

TARA WALKER

Executive Director – Projects & Operations

Tara is a proficient director who  has worked across multiple Ministry of Culture and other large-scale International Projects in Destination Development, Hospitality, Accommodation and Sport.

Results driven manager effective in leading projects from strategic planning to completion. Proven ability in building successful relationships and managing multiple contracts with efficiency.

LIAM WHOLEY

Senior Director Business Development

Liam Wholey is a seasoned commercial operator with a career spanning two decades with prominent multi-national clients across APAC, MEA, and Europe.

He has a robust understanding of commercial and procurement related processes and brings intellect and passion to take on big challenges and deliver successful results with an emphasis within the tourism, hospitality, loyalty and finance sectors.

He thrives in a culture of clear communication and deep engagement, that fosters long term relationships and partnerships.

DANA SHAIKH

Urban Design Director

Dana, an urbanist and designer trained in architecture, brings diverse experience in strategic urban design and landscape architecture across GCC countries, Europe, and China.

Previously, she was the Design Director at Tekuma Frenchman, overseeing KSA projects, and also worked as a research associate and design instructor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

Dana holds dual master’s degrees from Harvard in Urban Design and Landscape & Ecology.