WATG Appoints John Achari as Vice President and Director of Planning and Urban Design
WATG, one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary design firms, has announced that John Achari has joined the firm as Vice President and Director of Planning and Urban Design, based in Singapore. In this role, Achari will work globally with the firm’s Master Planning teams in California, London, Singapore and Shanghai, with a focus on urban design, particularly across Asia Pacific.
Achari brings to WATG more than 28 years’ experience in integrated master planning, urban design, urban renewal and regeneration, infrastructure master planning, mixed use developments, industrial developments, new city development, strategic planning, architecture, real estate development, neighborhood planning and landscape architecture projects. Achari has delivered urban design, master planning and development projects across Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, the Pacific Islands and South-East Asia.
David Moore, Regional Director Asia Pacific and China commented: “John brings formidable urban design experience to our team and has the knowledge, expertise and talent for taking master plans from inception and vision through to implementation, which is critical for our clients in Asia Pacific and China. John will play an integral role in our continued growth across the region and working with our expanded design team in Shanghai.”
John Achari commented: “I have always admired WATG’s expertise and ability to deliver innovative placemaking and destination design, and I look forward to applying that same ethos to our urban design and planning practice. I believe that emphasizing a stronger bridge between the conceptual vision and the infrastructure will deliver sustainable and timeless results and ROI for our clients.”
Most recently, Achari was Executive Director of Urban Planning and Infrastructure for the Municipality Department of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Prior to this role, John led the Master Planning and Urban Design practice as Vice President for Parsons International Limited in Dubai. John’s recent notable projects include The Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia; various housing projects for the Ministry of Housing in Saudi Arabia; Dahyat Al Fursan Mixed-Use Development in Northern Riyadh; South Al Batina Logistics Hub and Industrial City in Oman and more.
John officially joined WATG on 13 August 2019 and is based in the firm’s Singapore office.
