Bryan Oconnell
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
Summary
Innovative Chief Operating Officer with knack for streamlining operations and driving growth. Transformed underperforming departments into top performers by implementing strategic initiatives and fostering culture of accountability. Delivered significant improvements in operational efficiency and revenue growth by aligning team efforts with business goals.
Seasoned professional with focus on operational leadership and strategy. Drive organisational growth through optimising processes and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Deliver impactful results by leveraging strong skills and proven ability to manage complex projects.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Chief Operating Officer
CBRE
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2024.01 - 2026.04
- Senior operations executive with full P&L, governance, and delivery responsibility for CBRE Saudi Arabia platform, overseeing multi sector operations across Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), Advisory & Transaction Services, Facilities Management, and complex integrated client accounts.
- Trusted partner to CEO and global leadership, driving operational excellence, scalable growth, and risk-controlled delivery in one of CBRE fastest growing strategic markets.
- Lead end-to-end operating model for KSA, ensuring alignment with CBRE global standards, local regulatory requirements, saudization targets, and Saudi Vision 2030 priorities.
- Accountable for operational performance, contract mobilization, service quality, cost optimization, and supplier ecosystems across diverse portfolio including government entities, Giga projects, aviation, stadia, hospitality, commercial real estate, and critical environments.
- Key Responsibilities & Achievements
- Own and execute KSA operational strategy, translating growth ambitions into scalable, compliant, and high performing delivery models across Kingdom.
- Provide executive leadership across operations, transitions, procurement, supply chain, HSE, quality, risk, technology enablement, and people strategy.
- Lead large scale contract mobilizations and transitions, ensuring on time, on budget go lives for complex, multi-site and multi service mandates.
- Drive operational governance frameworks, strengthening controls around commercial risk, performance management, compliance, and client assurance.
- Partner closely with Sales, Finance, Legal, and HR to improve margin quality, cash discipline, and operational efficiency.
- Act as executive sponsor for strategic clients, resolving complex delivery issues and strengthening long term partnerships.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging digital transformation, data, and process optimisation to enhance service outcomes.
- Represent CBRE with key clients, JV partners, suppliers, and government stakeholders, reinforcing CBRE position as trusted long term partner in KSA.
- Leadership & Impact
- Built resilient operating platform capable of supporting rapid market expansion while maintaining governance and service excellence.
- Strengthened cross functional collaboration between local, regional, and global CBRE teams to accelerate decision making and execution.
- Elevated operational maturity, creating performance driven culture focused on safety, quality, and client value.
- Drove process improvement initiatives for increased productivity.
- Managed vendor relationships, securing timely delivery of products.
- Optimised resource allocation to maximise output and minimise waste.
- Promoted a customer-centric approach in all business operations.
Chief Operations Officer
IFAS Innovated Facilities Management Services
Riyadh , Saudi Arbia
2021.01 - 2024.01
- Supported operations by managing 34 royal properties.
- Assisted in planning handover procedures for seamless transitions.
- Coordinated with project managers and sub-contractors on various tasks.
- Helped prepare tender documents for third-party submissions.
- Facilitated weekly QHSE meetings to ensure safety compliance.
- Monitored resource allocation across all locations in KSA.
- Aided in compliance with codes, regulations, and policies.
- Guided HR management on skill set requirements for new employees.
Operations Director
LMF-GP a Kaishan Group Company
, MEA
2018.01 - 2021.01
- Operations Director for MEA region allowed me to engage in many high-profile projects. Initially identifying correct EPC contractor and/or finding correct distributor which then allowed to value engineer project and operations.
- Personally onboarded countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, East Coast and Central Africa. I have serious passion for Operations and passing on my knowledge to individuals.
- Setting up Operational networks across MEA region
- Implementing engineering solutions with ECP contractors & end user
- Completing registration of ADNOC, ARAMCO, QP, Woqoud, KP, DEWA, etc.
- Responsible for all Operational forecasting, budgets, and P&Ls across region
- Astute within all legal laws and compliance across region
- Total control of approx. 100 Operational engineers’ personnel reporting directly to me
- Hosting Webinars, operations training, technical operations training, CAFM upskilling, budget, and forecast management within my network of distributors, ECP contractors and end users.
- Designed comprehensive business plans which laid foundation for growth opportunities.
Managing Director
Lynch Interact
, MENA
2014.01 - 2018.01
- Due to my extensive overseas experience and proven ability to deliver projects, I was hand-picked to set up ‘Interact MENA’. Interact are the leading Irish owned company specialising in the provision of complete Facility Support and Building Fabric Services for the built environment.
- Interact can trace its history back to 1956 and the foundation of the Leo Lynch Group, one of Ireland’s leading Mechanical, Electrical & MEP; Process Engineering Companies.
- Today ‘Interact – Servicing the Built Environment’ is the acknowledged shorthand for the delivery of excellence in the Facilities Services sector, with offices in Ireland, United Arab Emirates and the wider MENA region.
- Responsible for mobilising Interact into the MENA region
- Total responsibility of operations in the MENA
- Revenue forecasting and project budgeting and management
- Business development across the MENA
- Full Operations P&L Management for the region
- Business negotiations with all government departments including banks & His Royal Highnesses across the UAE
- Preparing tenders documents for submissions
- Managing project managers and coordinating with sub-contractors
- Calculating and comparing costs to achieve maximum value for money
- Planning for future development in line with strategic business objective
- Planning best allocation of resources for new contracts
- Coordinating and leading the teams to cover various areas of responsibility
- Using performance management techniques to monitor and demonstrate achievement and to lead on improvement
- Guiding HR management regarding skill sets of new employees
- Implementing a new cloud based CAFM system to the MENA
Country Operations Manager
ProCon Building Materials
Kandahar
2010.01 - 2014.01
- ProCon Country Operations Manager Kandahar Afghanistan, I was responsible for delivering FM contracts for a wide range of commercial & government clients, which include US, Canadian, Australian, UAE, British military, Afghanistan national Army KBR.
- This role included the management of 2,500 personnel in Afghanistan; project managers, engineers, and various team leads.
- The core business was a facilities management & EPC and civil contracting for IFM, NATO and NAMSA contracts worth up to 16 million US Dollars.
- Operational Management in a war zone environment is extremely challenging and brings its own unique rewards.
- Executing IFM contracts and design build precast buildings across Afghanistan Military Bases
- Operations and maintenance of military and camps across Afghanistan.
- Interfaced with electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers in the completion of electrical, mechanical, and civil handover packages and maintenance guidelines for the accommodation blocks, ablution blocks, warehouses, and storage facilities.
- Consulted with clients and design team to clarify and deliver proposal solutions.
- Completed site inspections and snag list inspections to ensure full close out on projects delivering specification, quality, and timeframe objective.
- Preparing operation maintenance and facility maintenance manuals for new and completed contracts.
- Dealing with all financial issues for the company in Afghanistan.
- Developed 1, 3 and 10yr CAPEX and OPEX strategy plans for clients through the use of Business Intelligence and Smart FM solutions
- Initiate FM delivery and the role out approach across 350 nationwide sites
- TFM delivery in excess of $30m
- Critical contract deliverables are met for new and ongoing contracts
- Saving significant money on contract set up
- Able to bring change
- Improve client satisfaction
- Increasing company revenue
Operations Director
O’ Connell Paints
, Ireland
2002.01 - 2010.01
- Operations Director
- Business Development
- Responsible for several commercial fit outs
- Director of personally owned company
- Managed all financial issues (Debtors/Creditors/ Banking)
- Employment of eight full time staff.
- Managed over 50 all key accounts
- Managed budgets, promotions, advertising, suppliers, stock control and customer service
Professional Rugby
1995.01 - 2008.01
- Played with Sydney University RFC, Australia
- Played with Thames Valley RFC, New Zealand
- Played with Sundays Well RRC, Ireland
- Played with Midleton RFC, Ireland (Captained)
- Representative honors Munster/Ireland U18
Education
Leaving Certificate - Food Science
Presentation Brothers College Cork
North of IrelandInternational fund for Ireland
Berlin Germany
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
Queens University Belfast
North of IrelandSkills
- Strategic visioning
- Merger and acquisition strategies
- Decision making under pressure
- Inventory control techniques
- Decisive leadership
- Business development
- Business strategy and leadership
- Brand building
- Organisational growth and change management
Certification
- Foundation
- Level 1 accredited IRB
- Level 2 accredited IRB
Interests & Activities
Keen interest in sports including swimming, rugby, cycling, and triathlons.
Additional information
- Full Irish, KSA & UAE driving License
- IT literate with extensive knowledge in all Microsoft applications
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
CBRE
2024.01 - 2026.04
Chief Operations Officer
IFAS Innovated Facilities Management Services
2021.01 - 2024.01
Operations Director
LMF-GP a Kaishan Group Company
2018.01 - 2021.01
Managing Director
Lynch Interact
2014.01 - 2018.01
Country Operations Manager
ProCon Building Materials
2010.01 - 2014.01
Operations Director
O’ Connell Paints
2002.01 - 2010.01
Professional Rugby
1995.01 - 2008.01
Leaving Certificate - Food Science
Presentation Brothers College Cork
International fund for Ireland
Berlin Germany
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
Queens University Belfast