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Bringing scale to project delivery

3 October 2024

 

A US-based project services company has quietly grown over the past seven years into a global entity with $15bn of revenue and operations in over 100 countries, including key Middle East markets.

That company is Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc (GISI). It was founded in 2017 by a group of industry veterans, including Dick Newman and John Dinisio, who previously founded another industry giant, Aecom. 

“The founders are legends in the industry. Dick Newman, in many respects, shaped the modern engineering and consulting business. John Dinisio is another key leader, and so is Jeff Kissel. They are a group of highly experienced, very accomplished leaders that got together in 2017 and founded the business, and in that short period built a business of over 15,000 staff,“ says Derek Amidon, chief operating officer of GISI.

Business structure

The business is structured into four broad segments: infrastructure, earth and environment, international development and infrastructure in Asia. 

The main business for infrastructure is Hill International, which merged with GISI in December 2022. Hill has a strong track record of delivering major projects in the Middle East, including the Palm Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi Airport and Riyadh Metro. 

The Middle East is also an important region for GISI and, having grown up in the region as a child, one that holds a special place for Amidon. “I have always been interested in the Middle East, and it is a key area of focus for us. We are strengthening our presence and serving important clients. Hill International has worked on some of the most transformative projects that have helped define the modern Middle East,” he says. 

Global spending on infrastructure right now is at record levels” 
Derek Amidon, GISI

The Middle East is just one global market offering strong promise for GISI. “Global spending on infrastructure right now is at record levels, and the demands from clients for our services are very high,” says Amidon. 

Using a sporting reference, Amidon highlights GISI’s scale and the ability to call upon the experience of its global network of staff as a key differentiator. “We are a firm with a very deep bench of capability. Our global footprint has positioned us well to support our clients and their projects.” 

People are crucial for successfully delivering projects. “In the Middle East, we are becoming a valuable resource for clients. We are working on key programmes and that will continue to fuel our growth. Our growth has been phenomenal up until now, and that is tied to our ability to attract the best talent in the industry,” says Amidon.

Looking ahead, GISI is committed to the region and is mindful that it will have to negotiate challenges along the way. “Clearly, there are tensions in the Middle East, but I think we are experienced enough to roll with those tensions. Challenges do not daunt us. We seek to make smart decisions and have good collaborative relationships with our clients,” says Amidon. 

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Colin Foreman

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