Global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm SMEC has announced the appointment of Andrew McKune as its new Managing Director for India, effective immediately.
The region is a key area of focus for SMEC, as it targets expansion that will capitalise on its strong project portfolio, clients and network of local offices established over 40+ years.
Andrew joined SMEC in 2011 as part of the team at SMEC South Africa. Prior to re-locating to India, he was Regional Head for SMEC South Africa’s Gauteng South office. Andrew, who has worked in various technical and leadership roles across Africa and South Asia, said he planned to drive growth, signalling the global engineering firm’s commitment to the region.
“Our project experience in India is diverse, reflecting both the depth of our expertise and our strong local roots, having started our first project in 1975,” he said.
“We’re proud to have been an integral part of India’s growth story, especially after the Indian Government adopted the Economic Liberalization Policy in 1991.”
With the infrastructure sector a key driver of India’s economy, Andrew says that SMEC has seen phenomenal growth in the highways sector and more recently in the water, power and rail and metro sector, “providing us with ample opportunities to contribute our expertise to the development of the country.”
SMEC has recently opened offices in Chennai and Guwahati. The firm’s Global Design Centre is also based in Bangalore and currently services multiple sectors across the globe.
“Considering the incessant efforts being made by the Government through development of smart cities and willingness to invest in urban and rural infrastructure, we see a bright future ahead.
The Indian growth story has just begun and there is significant potential to transform this enormous nation.
SMEC is well-placed to take a leading role in accelerating the region’s development. We have an enviable mix of specialists, technology, trusted local partners and a reputation for quality delivery.”
Andrew has more than 12 years’ experience in civil engineering. His technical background pertains primarily to transportation projects, and he has been responsible for management and oversight of various multi-disciplinary projects across Africa and South Asia. Before being appointed as Managing Director India, he was the Director of Operations for SMEC’s South Asia and Middle East regions.
He holds a Master of Science in Engineering (Civil) and a Bachelor of Science, Engineering (Civil) from the University of Cape Town.
Andrew is a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and is a Fellow of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).
