Published on October 17, 2022:

Our ‘Spotlight’ series aims to shine a light on transformation highlights, across the group. Each edition will feature a different team or colleague, showcasing progressive action, innovation and Purpose-led progress!

In the latest edition of our ‘Spotlight’ series, we take a look at the collaborative innovation achieved by our Enterprise Excellence team, through their latest programme to transform AG Elevator’s existing operating model. Read on to learn how they have optimised the business’ capabilities, leveraged manufacturing capacities, improved customer experience, and much more!

Fostering Collaboration to Boost Innovation

Change is both an inevitable and necessary part of life - but that doesn’t mean it is easy! Introducing new processes and ways of working can be disruptive, as they change the way everyday tasks are performed, alter a business’ structure, and push us out of our comfort zones. Yet, as the old adage goes: “Progress is impossible without change”, and so we understand that continually improving – or, pursuing better, across our operations, business processes, and personal performance is essential to remaining relevant, competitive, and ahead in a world that is increasingly fast-paced, changeable and unpredictable.

Our Enterprise Excellence team, a centre-led function dedicated to transforming customer experience and operating models, work to improve business performance, and achieve results that deliver added value to key stakeholders.

The team’s projects focus on business aspirations set by business unit CEOs across Al Ghurair, with skilled project teams assigned in consultancy roles to deliver on transformation goals. The projects are championed by top management and are collaboratively implemented through effectively accessing key strengths and areas of improvement within existing operating models - uncovering opportunities to optimise and improve.

On the up with AG Elevators!

AG Elevators, part of the AG Engineering cluster of businesses under our Construction and Services sector, aspires to be one of leading manufacturers and solution providers of elevators within the GCC region. In-line with the Group’s overall goal to achieve 25% revenue from new initiatives by 2025, the business also aims to launch new product partnerships that will serve to boost organic growth. Over a 16-week transformation programme, Enterprise Excellence has worked in collaboration with AG Elevators to enable the business to further advance towards achieving these goals.

Under the sponsorship of K. Jacob John, Chief Executive Officer, Engineering Cluster, the Enterprise Excellence team was able to identify key challenges currently faced by the business, assess potential solutions and ultimately define goals that will support with achieving sustainable and measurable success. The robust assessment process included exploring the business’ main ‘pain-points’ and discovering opportunities to optimise capabilities to generate more value. This included leveraging existing manufacturing capacity, increasing and scaling demand, and establishing potential collaborative business opportunities with other leading elevator manufacturers.

With these insights in hand, the project team worked with the stakeholder group to develop and apply a customer-driven approach based on the five-lens Operating Model Transformation Model –focusing on delivering customer needs at the lowest cost and lead-time - improving productivity, building efficient processes, building capabilities across various functions within the business and enhancing performance management structures. Of the optimisation and improvement solutions suggested, 65% have already been implemented, with the remaining initiatives to complete soon. 

Elevating for the Future!

Whilst it may still be early days, the impact of these implemented solutions is already evident – with measurable improvements in the capability of the AG Elevator Sales and Maintenance teams, optimised production capacity and overall elevated performance metrics. With detailed business plans and operating model designs in place, the business has also been able to develop partnership opportunities identified and increase customer acquisition. 

With all initiatives implemented, the team estimates that AG Elevators will generate higher maintenance service revenues by 40-80% and expand their market share for maintenance services by up to 1.25%! In addition, the business will see an improvement in production capacity utilisation – of Suction Vacuum Elevator (SVE) manufacturing by 84% - 218% and of Metal Enclosure manufacturing by up to126%! 

“Our Enterprise Excellence team has truly demonstrated the added value their function brings to the business, as capable experts who are able to serve as the business’ own internal consultants, ensuring decisions incorporate the needs of all stakeholders, and are aligned to the overall Group’s objectives. As part of Al Ghurair, we are led by the same Purpose and Vision – united in our pursuit of better, for customers, people, the region, and our stakeholders. The extensive benefits of having an in-house team working to optimise and transform business models and operational processes across the business are evident. This enables us to seamlessly coordinate with internal functions, gain insights from those who know the business from the inside out, and rely on the team’s support throughout the implementation journey.

Enterprise Excellence has provided AG Elevators with invaluable insights and solutions that will ultimately enable us to grow the business and achieve its true potential and beyond.” - K. Jacob John, CEO, Al Ghurair Construction & Services Sector, Engineering Cluster 

Published on October 12, 2022:

Our transformation journey is about coming together, working towards a shared Purpose, celebrating and building on our legacy, by collectively reshaping the future of Al Ghurair. It’s a privileged position, and we all have a part to play in shaping and driving the transformation!

With change all round us, every day, it’s important that we don’t miss milestones along the way, and that we look outside our own teams and departments to see how others are championing and enabling our journey.

Our ‘Spotlight’ series aims to shine a light on transformation highlights, across the group. Each edition will feature a different team or colleague, showcasing progressive action, innovation and Purpose-led progress!

In the latest edition of our ‘Spotlight’ series, we shine a light on one of our colleagues, and how through his role, plays an active part in meaningfully building and safeguarding value in all parts of the business – shaping our transformation by further advancing our core principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, and responsibility.

Meet Denys Lementar…

Denys is our Group Compliance Manager, who had joined the business in June of 2021 – a little over a year to-date. We asked Denys a bit about himself, about his role within Group Risk Assurance Services, his thoughts on our change journey and much more.

Take a look at our interview with Denys below!

Denys, tell us a bit about your role and what your day-to-day job entails?

At a practical, day-to-day level, my responsibilities as Group Compliance Manager at Al Ghurair, is to maintain the company’s legal and ethical integrity through policy planning, enforcement, and addressing compliance issues as they arise.

More simply put, my role is to understand the laws and regulations of which our company should comply with - enabling our corporate compliance programmes that also steer our people toward certain standards of conduct. To preserve and safeguard our reputation as a company, I work to ensure that we remain within the strict boundaries of regulatory requirements set by governments and regulatory bodies within the regions of our business operations, as well as meet all official standards that govern our business.

It is crucial as part of my role that I identify our company’s tolerance for risk. Working in conjunction with the rest of the management team and the board of directors, I assess and understand all risks including the risk of failing to meet regulatory compliance obligations. I then work to develop policies, procedures, and internal controls to keep risk at tolerable levels.

What advice would you offer fellow professionals in the field of compliance looking to strengthen their skills?

Keeping up with the trends of the compliance market, new laws and regulations, and thought leaders within the space of governance and compliance must be incorporated into the daily routine of those within the field. Reading is key, as those in the professional sphere of risk assurance should be continuously collecting a diversified amount of information as part of their research on emerging compliance issues, trends and updates. This allows us to meet best practices, stay up-to-date, and effectively maximise the quality of insight, foresight, and advice we bring forth to support a business.

Another key skill fellow professionals in the field must focus on is communication. They must be able to communicate with internal stakeholders – not only to ensure people understand how to adhere to compliance requirements, but to also get to know the business from the inside out in order to identify what exact controls need to be put in place.

Lastly, a piece of advice I would share is simply this – always act with integrity. To always be conscious of what is right or wrong helps you safeguard your reputation and that of the company of which you work for. Acting with integrity applies to the way you treat yourself as well, as my belief is one’s reputation is worth more than any tangible asset.

What do you consider to be a critical factor to achieving a successful business transformation journey?

I believe a key factor of which can successfully drive a company to achieving great results on its strive towards a significant change transformation – is its leadership team.

Leaders are who employees are always referring to as leading examples of how they should interact and behave as part of the company. The contagious effect that this correlation holds on an entire company is substantial – as the precedent behaviour of the company’s leadership has immediate effects on every corner of an organisation. For this reason, I believe that it is very important for a company to have the right leadership team who lead with the right approach, and the right vision – who inspire teams to innovate and drive the progressive future of the company.

This is one of the reasons why I am especially proud to be part of Al Ghurair. I wholeheartedly believe in our leadership team, their ability to lead us through the next chapter of the company’s legacy, drive our pursuit of better to enhance life, and positively build on its reputation of growing with respect, humility, and community focus. I value how they actively implement our strategic Think Group pillar, guiding us towards a collective purpose, to drive sustainable excellence for the future, together. By following this approach, they are able to shine a light on all our people and their contributions, enable those within the company to grow in different ways, challenging them to go beyond a constrained scope of work, learn new skills and gain a broader range of knowledge. Our leadership team make this all possible.

What do you enjoy most about working with your team?

The diversity of my team members is something I greatly value and is what I enjoy most about working with them. The team consists of professionals that have come together from various parts of the world, and by working with them I benefit significantly as I am able to learn from the diversity of thought, skills, and backgrounds brought forth by them, which in turn enables me to expand my way of thinking, outside of my own experiences.

As Group Risk Assurance Services, we all work with an aim to significantly enhance and protect shareholder value and support the business by creating a sound governance model - but do so from different angles. These different perspectives when brought together, expand our view of areas that we can work to improve. The different approaches also make it easier to get through to our shareholders when it comes to ensuring the compliance of varied laws and regulations – as we are able to tailor our approach to manage a diversified set of stakeholders.

What has motivated you to reach this part in your career?

I am a predictable person in many ways - whenever it is time to make a decision, I always estimate the risk, conduct an analysis of the pros and cons, and put things together in a very structured way. On the other hand, when it came to the opportunity to join Al Ghurair, the decision was made with little hesitation. I jumped at the opportunity to work for a company whose legacy is engrained into the heritage of the UAE and has considerably contributed to the development of what we see Dubai as today.

It was an opportunity for me to share my skills and knowledge learned throughout my career and contribute positively in another part of the world. The opportunity did not come without its challenges – but I took the leap, stepped outside of my comfort zone by moving away from my home country and made a significant step forward with my career.

What made the decision easy was my joy in coming to know that Al Ghurair was aligned with my own principles, values, and met the set of ethical standards I always search for before taking any new path in life. Its history, long-standing legacy, and the pioneering spirit of the Al Ghurair family who have made a significant impact on the evolution of the UAE inspired me to join their journey of change, innovation and constant pursuit of better. To feel proud of being a part of such a major transformation journey within a company that facilitates meaningful change, is what motivated me – and continues to do so.

What is your personal purpose?

I believe my personal purpose is deeply aligned to my profession. As a professional in the field of governance, I work to defend and help people better understand laws and regulations, how to effectively comply with them to avoid pitfalls that could potentially harm our reputation as a company – which is one of the greatest and most valuable assets of a business. Maintaining an honourable reputation requires nobility and candour, which I believe applies to us all on a personal level as well.

I am ardently devoted to the principles of trust, integrity, and transparency. I believe in the importance of not betraying one’s own values and principles, in being your best self, authentically. My personal purpose is to utilise these principles and strive to do my part in making this world a bit of a better place by encouraging others to always act with integrity so that people can better rely on one another. They say “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” - and if many of us would follow this methodology, the world we live in would become that much better. Thus, if I myself can put this into practice with those around me or within my community – through messages on social networks, or through any simple gesture - it would make me very happy to know I am living by my principles and living out my personal purpose.

“Never betray your established principles and values. Your principles and values are what shapes your personality, distinguishes, and sets you apart from others. When these principles and values constantly fluctuate, you lose the unique personality factors that make you, you, causing you to blend into the world around you. Maintaining solid and stable principles defines you as a person, sets you apart, and allows you to be the best version of your authentic self.” – Denys Lementar, Group Compliance Manager, Al Ghurair Investment

Published on September 9, 2022:

In-line with our Group-wide aspiration to facilitate change for the better and our commitment to caring for customers while fostering a better world for tomorrow - is the Swissôtel Al Ghurair’s latest sustainability initiative of an in-house water filtration project, offering its guests clean and fresh drinking water. Through this initiative and by the end of 2022, the hotel promises to save over 500,000 plastic bottles and provide fresh drinking water to over 250,000 guests!

The latest edition of our Spotlight series outlines Swissotel Al Ghurair’s mindful approach to sustainability - protecting and preserving water for a better tomorrow!

Upholding the Swiss Sustainable Standards

Rooted in the tradition of Swiss hospitality, Swissotel Al Ghurair, a landmark five-star hotel under the Al Ghurair Properties hospitality portfolio, is nestled in the heart of Deira and expertly managed by Accor. There's everything to suggest that Swissôtel Al Ghurair delivers an unmatched living experience within a bustling neighbourhood, serving a wide selection of discerning guests by offering a uniquely nurturing environment.

In-line with Al Ghurair’s Group-wide aspiration to facilitate change for the better and our commitment to caring for customers while fostering a better world for tomorrow – the expertly managed hotel approaches its business decisions and strategies from a mindset of making a meaningful impact. As a result, the contemporary hotel has long been welcoming guests on a journey centred on the guest’s well-being while consciously making efforts to reduce its ecological footprint through a mindful approach to sustainability.

Advancing this philosophy, is the hotel’s latest sustainability initiative – introducing its in-house water filtration project to offer its guests clean and fresh drinking water. The filtration system treats discarded freshwater through various chemical and microbiological processes, which is then carefully bottled and distributed in guestrooms and dining areas within the hotel. Used for bottling and filtration is a dedicated room within the hotel that prioritises and observes strict measures of sanitisation and hygiene and is manned only by a few certified hotel colleagues.

Every day the team cleans, fills and seals approximately 1800 glass bottles – largely reducing their single-use plastic consumption. By the end of 2022, the hotel promises to save over 500,000 plastic bottles and provide fresh drinking water to over 250,000 guests!

For Swissotel Al Ghurair, knowing how to care for guests and reassure them that they will receive a safe welcome is part of their DNA and comes naturally. Through the implementation of the most stringent cleaning standards and operational protocols in the world of hospitality and the guarantee of Accor’s ‘ALL Safe’ Label, the filtered water has been approved by the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department; and is completely safe for consumption by hotel guests.

Some of the hotel’s other sustainable efforts include their Vitality breakfast and lunch offerings, which include a selection of homemade jams and syrups, and an a la carte menu that includes homegrown vegetables, seasonal fruits, and sustainably sourced fish. Sustainability remains a key focus among the team at Swissotel Al Ghurair and is at the core of the tradition of Swiss hospitality.

“One of my passion projects was the water-filtration system within the hotel, which I had worked on since August last year, and I am very pleased with the support of my engineering and rooms team who brought the project to life. Together, we join the Dubai government’s initiative of Dubai Can and with the support of Accor, our stakeholders and employees, we take it as our duty to protect and preserve water for a better tomorrow. Life is a journey. Live it well!” - General Manager, Swissotel Al Ghurair