Iain Thomson is the Program Manager for Jubail and Ras Al Khair Industrial Cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is the appointed Bechtel senior representative for Royal Commission, leading an EPC project management team of c.500 personnel, supporting the planning, development and delivery of investor and community infrastructure projects, with annual work plans exceeding SAR 2B across c.120 contracts.
Iain joined Bechtel over 25 years ago as a graduate hire. He has since taken on progressive leadership roles on civil and infrastructure mega projects. Prior to his current role, he was the Regional Director for NEOM Spine, developing the contracting and procurement strategy, and ultimately managing the delivery of one of the world’s largest drill and blast tunneling projects within the 28km Mountain Region.
Iain held several positions in business development and functional management, leading multidisciplinary teams. Between 2018 and 2020, Iain was the Project Manager for Bechtel’s Delivery Partner Contract with Sydney Metro, managing the SAR 5.4B Tunnels and Stations Excavation Works. Between 2013 and 2017, Iain was Engineering Manager on Bechtel’s Riyadh Metro Project in Saudi Arabia. He established key subcontract design packages and overall technical governance requirements. He also managed the design development and assurance of self-perform tunneling, structural and MEP works.
Iain has extensive knowledge in forming and maintaining stakeholder relationships with various customers. He worked in the UK from 2001 to 2013 on several iconic rail projects, initially as Senior Engineer for High-Speed 1, progressing to Engineering Manager on Bechtel’s Crossrail Project Delivery Partner (PDP) project.
Iain’s experience in the construction industry also includes five years in telecoms. He held key project management positions for the UK analogue to digital switchover program and supported cellular network expansion projects in the UK, Bulgaria and USA.
Iain holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Strathclyde University, Glasgow. He is a Chartered Engineer, Member of the U.K. Institution of Civil Engineers, and Saudi Council of Engineers.
Senior strategic leader with over 25yrs project management experience across four continents
