ROBERT LOVETT - CHAIRMAN
Robert has lived and worked in the Middle East for over 10 years. He has been a principal in real estate developments in the United States, Eastern Europe, and the GCC. He is one of the founders of Landmark Properties LLC, one of the leading real estate firms in the United Arab Emirates with over AED 10 billion in sales and AED 1 billion in leasing per annum. He also sits on the Investment Committee of the Landmark Real Estate Opportunities Fund I, a UAE-focused fund launched in 2005. Prior to this, he spent six years at Merrill Lynch and Citigroup, managing investment advisory groups in New York and the Middle East.
CHARLES JOHN NEIL – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Charles is a highly experienced senior financial executive who joined Landmark in 2008 following his successful tenure with the Dubai International Financial Center (“DIFC”). Charles brings forward an exceptional track record of working in both the public and private sectors. While at the DIFC Charles held many executive posts including Director of Special Projects (Legal), Commissioner for Data Protection & Commissioner for Anti-Money Laundering & Counter Financing of Terrorism. Charles was one of the original executives recruited to found the DIFC.
Prior to his role with the DIFC Charles was the General Manager of Emirates Bank International, Dubai, UAE, heading Corporate & Commercial Banking, Retail Banking and Overseas Operations and Treasury. During his tenure Charles and the Bank received many recognitions, including “Best Bank in the UAE”. Prior to Emirates Bank, Charles was the Regional Head for Lloyds Bank plc (International), responsible for Commercial, Private and Retail Banking and Treasury Operations.
Charles has resided in the Gulf States for more than 25 years . He has also held senior management posts with Lloyds Bank in Uruguay and Argentina. Early in his career Charles was an Economist with Lloyds in their London Office. Charles obtained a BSSc. (Hons) from Queens University, Belfast (Economics & Economic History).
HIBA JABER – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Hiba joined the Landmark team in 2006 after working as a senior auditor at KPMG in the US. She is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the company as well as sourcing human resources for the office. Prior to working for Landmark, Hiba worked with the American Business Council in Dubai helping facilitate cooperation between the American Business community and the UAE Business community of Dubai. Graduating from the University of Illinois, Hiba obtained a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting and a minor in Biology.
JESSE DOWNS – HEAD OF RESEARCH
Jesse joined Landmark Advisory as a senior member of the consulting group. Prior to this, she was the Business Development Manager for a Venture Capital Fund setting up in Dubai, where her focus was on the Solar Technology Industry. Prior to this, Jesse was a Consultant at a Financial Services Executive Search firm in Dubai. Jesse has an MA in Sociology from the American University in Beirut, where she was also posted as a Research Assistant in the Center for Behavioral Research and the Center for Research on Population and Health. Jesse has a BA in Economics from Harvard University.
YASMEEN SEIF – PRODUCT MANAGER
Yasmeen joined Landmark Advisory after completing her Master’s degree with honors in Communication and Business at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. While there, she also completed additional coursework in the School of Business as well as the School of Foreign Service. Yasmeen also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration at the American University in Washington, DC.
Her work experience includes time as a Product Manager at L’Oreal Middle East in Dubai and prior to that she worked for Christie’s Auction House in the Marketing department in both London and New York. Her role moving forward at Landmark will be to liaise with management, developers and the research team to effectively manage inventory and market only the best quality items to investors.
ASAD SAWANI – FINANCIAL ANALYST
Asad Sawani joined Landmark Advisory as a Financial Analyst in 2008. Prior to Landmark, Asad was part of the business development team at VRM Inc., a tourism marketing services firm based in Orlando, Florida, where he was responsible for financial analysis and feasibility assessment of new corporate-level strategies. Asad developed numerous market reports and research studies involving a variety of industries, included hospitality, real estate, land development and travel services, using business model analysis and valuation metrics.
Prior to VRM, Asad was an Analyst at Morgan Stanley in Miami, Florida, providing support to a team of wealth managers managing approximately US$1 billion for high net worth clients primarily from South and Central American countries including Mexico and Brazil. At Morgan Stanley, Asad analyzed asset allocation directives and potential investment vehicles in all asset classes, including equities, fixed income, hedge funds, private equity and structured derivative products. Asad graduated in 2002 from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelors of Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School majoring in Finance.
NUNO RIBEIRO - SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST
Nuno recently joined Landmark Advisory as a Senior Research Analyst. He has been working with the Coperfil Real Estate Group for the past year as a Business Development Executive. He spent his first 6 months with Coperfil working in their Barcelona office. In February 2008, he moved to their Dubai office. Since moving to Dubai, Nuno has been conducting industrial and market research covering the Middle East and South Asia. He has a BA in Business & Economics from the Higher Institute of Business Sciences in Lisbon, Portugal. Nuno also participated in the EU’s European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS) through which he spent a year at the Madrid Business School. Before moving to Spain and then Dubai, Nuno was raised in Portugal and speaks fluent English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
OLIVER HOGG – RESEARCH ANALYST
Oliver recently joined Landmark Advisory as a Research Analyst. Prior to this Oliver was the Research and Events Officer for the Conservative Middle East Council in London. In March 2009, he moved back to Dubai to work for Dubai Professional Trading Group as a trainee Fixed Income Derivatives Trader. Oliver graduated in 2007, from the University of Durham in England with a BA (hons.) degree in Combined Social Sciences specialising in Middle Eastern History, Economics and Arabic.
SAEED HASHMI – HEAD OF VALUATION SERVICES
Saeed has considerable experience in the property sector working for both client-side and consultancy companies. Previously he worked for Jones Lang Lasalle in their capital markets team providing investment advisory services to clients within Scotland. Previous to that he worked for 5 years in London for both a High Net-Worth Individual and Cluttons LLP where he carried out valuation and investment work. Saeed has a BSc Honours in Estate Management and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
