Leadership Expertise: Our New Director of Strategy and Transformation

Expansion is something that EER has put front and centre in terms of its priorities since Marie O’Neill and Aideen Hopkins took over as co-owners in 2021.  That strategic focus is designed to enhance the client experience at EER through additional service provisions, a wider global reach and the welcoming of new talent to the team.  A particularly exciting part of their ambitious expansion plans was to add to their already renowned leadership expertise by welcoming a new Director of Strategy and Transformation, Andrea Unser.  We sat down with Andrea to get to know her better and find out what she will bring to the EER team.

Hello Andrea and welcome to EER!  First off, what interested you most about joining EER? 

I enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of working with both Marie and Aideen, both have a vested interest in the business succeeding and are very client focused. EER is a growing company with lots of potential, which is how I knew my experience in enhancement and transformation could add value.  The opportunity to work somewhere with such a great culture and potential for growth wasn’t one I was going to pass up.

As Director of Strategy and Transformation what will your day-to-day responsibilities be?

Anything and everything, there is never a dull moment at EER.  My main responsibilities will be steering the overall strategy of EER for 2023 with key focus on all automation projects including our CRM and then our expansion projects.  I will also oversee finance and HR.

What will your main goals in this new role be? 

My three main goals for this year are – expansion beyond the UAE, implementing internal process improvements to bolster efficiency and company automation and digitisation.  I will also be working closely with the leadership and wider team on our collective sustainability goals, since this is a big part of our company strategy along with continuing to improve our DE&I initiatives and policies.

What unique skills do you think you bring to the role?

My strengths lie in finance, project management, leadership, process improvement and working with people at all levels within the organisation. I will be using my financial analysis and accounting background to drive growth and understand where the problem areas are within the organisation and then implement an inclusive change management process.  I think my strengths are the ideal compliment to Marie and Aideen’s leadership expertise with their skills in business development, PR, operations and compliance.

Can you talk us through some of your career history? 

Prior to the UAE I worked in professional services in a global law firm and had the opportunity to live and work in London, Hong Kong and Milan in the field of financial analysis and planning, supporting the strategy of the firm and understanding the key drivers behind clients and product profitability. With my move to Dubai I was fortunate enough to work with large corporates including G4S, Al Futtaim and Al Naboodah in both financial controller and project transformation roles.  Throughout my experience across various industries I have focused on bringing people together and inspiring positive action.  I plan to bring that dedication, as well as my curious mentality, to my work at EER.

What insights can you offer regarding the industry as a whole and its future direction? 

Despite the slowdown in the rest of the world, Dubai and the rest of the GCC has definitely shown signs of being resilient. At EER we have seen this first hand given the volume of company set ups during last year as well as the increase in relocation and immigration enquiries. During 2023 we foresee this growth continuing and are coordinating our strategy to facilitate the needs of our clients and our overall objectives, all while remaining as adaptable as possible to the evolution of the market.

How long have you lived in the UAE?  

I’ve lived in the UAE for 15 years. I arrived on the typical 2-year plan and never left and now have 2 kids and a house, all I need now is a dog!

And what do you like to do with your down time?  

I like exercising and getting outdoors, whether that’s heading out camping, going cycling or finding myself in the middle of a triathlon. I also enjoy meeting with friends to have a laugh and unwind.