The Rocking Director
This April 2023, we get to know Wilhelm Lidén, Executive Director at Gulf Rock.
As rock engineers, Gulf Rock helps create resilient opportunities for communities to grow and thrive as they partner with the Gulf region’s visionary leaders since 1985. Pairing proven Swedish methodology with their extensive regional experience, they have delivered public and private-sector projects in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Sultanate of Oman.
As the second generation leading the business, Wilhelm is focused on greener operations as he continues to build the company’s legacy.
Hej SBC Member!
Who is Wilhelm Lidén?
Gulf Rock is a rock engineering company that successfully partners with the Gulf’s visionary industry leaders in the public and private sectors.
As the executive director and the second generation to help run the company, I continue to build essential client and partner relations, ensuring that Gulf Rock’s world-class standards lead the industry. My career spans the industrial design and engineering industries in the USA, Europe, and MENA regions, which has enabled me to collaborate with government and company leadership to deliver ambitious visions that connect communities for future generations.
Wilhelm Lidén, Executive Director, Gulf Rock
Completed road and tunnel segment
As an Executive Director, can you explain more about your role at Gulf Rock and your current focus?
My leadership position at Gulf Rock is wide-reaching as I work closely with our team to oversee the day-to-day business and foster client and industry relationships.
I prioritise leading the company culture to reinforce our core values in everything we do, delivering measurable results to our clients and safer and greener operations for the benefit of all stakeholders.
You started your career as a designer for luxury retail brands; how do you use these skills in your current role?
My career as an industrial designer has helped me hone a solution-driven methodology from conception to the delivery of engineering projects. The ability to direct and oversee industrial design processes and facilitate industrial design standards and quality control output is ever present in our work at Gulf Rock.
And as with any creative and engineering field, my ability to collaborate with our team, partners and industry suppliers is essential to ensure consistent and reliable project delivery.
Construction of roads and tunnels
What are some of the proud initiatives you have driven during the years at Gulf Rock?
As a company, Gulf Rock has completed hundreds of projects for our public and private sector partners, including over 20 Km of underground tunnels in the region. Our team is unsurpassed, boasting decades of loyalty and hard work. They exemplify our world-class standards and proven expertise.
A point of pride is that our work is unnoticeable yet distinctly present across the landscape, a sign of true craftsmanship in rock engineering.
What is your dream in life?
My ambition is to carve the way for Gulf Rock and continue to build on our legacy and relationships in the region with our expansion into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. We seek to open opportunities for ourselves and those who’ve helped us get where we are.
Greener operations are a huge goal for Gulf Rock in the coming years. With rock engineering comes challenges unique to the Gulf landscape; we are constantly learning from our own experiences and our study of best global practices to implement innovative practices along the processing chain to offer our clients better and more sustainable engineering solutions.
While it’s a long road ahead, we see that we have a social responsibility to those who live and work near our projects. Our work seeks to improve their lives and those of the next generation.
Thank you Wilhelm for sharing your story! We wish you all the best with the coming years!
Wilhelm Lidén, Executive Director, Gulf Rock
Email: wilhelm.liden@gulfrock.com
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