Portas Consulting, a sport-focused management consulting firm, has welcomed Clayton D’Costa to its team.
Based in Dubai, Clayton D’Costa has been appointed Global Leader of the firm’s Major Events practice, which provides consulting services – from planning, readiness and post-event assessment – to major sporting events.
“Clayton will help shape and grow an already significant portfolio of major event work in the Middle East, and in other projects in Asia and Europe,” said David Portas, Global Managing Partner at Portas Consulting.
Since its inception in 2006, Portas Consulting has built a portfolio of working with some of the world’s largest sporting associations, governments and event organisers. In the Middle East, the firm among others delivered engagements for Muscat Marathon, Dakar Rally, and football leagues across the region.
D’Costa most recently was the Director of Excellence at the National Projects Office – a newly established entity in the UAE overseeing a portfolio of major projects and events, including the United Arab Emirates Pavilion at Expo 2020. Clayton is also the former Director of Planning for the Special Olympics Abu Dhabi 2019, where he oversaw the strategic planning and operational readiness for the first Special Olympics to be held in the MENA region.
Earlier, he worked on projects for Expo 2020, the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, the 2015 European Games in Baku, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. D’Costa gained most of his experience as a consultant, having spent around a decade at Hyder Consulting, PA Consulting, Moorhouse and Deloitte.
“Clayton brings with him a wealth of major events experience. He has deep strategic planning, readiness and operations experience and, uniquely, has a strong consulting background,” said Portas.
In his new role, D’Costa will be provide clients with strategic advisory expertise across the major events lifecycle, from strategic evaluation, bid development, Local Organising Committee formation, integrated operational planning, event readiness, operations oversight through to post event reporting.
Commenting on his new role, D’Costa said, “Following a period of intense global disruption by the Covid-19 pandemic, major sporting events will be back with a vengeance as cities and governments aim to revitalise their economies and the public look for a return to normality by attending events that interest and inspire them.”
“More and more, strategic oversight of major event planning is paramount. I am super excited to be joining such a bunch of talented individuals whose passion for sport and physical activity remains at the heart everything we do.”
Portas Consulting has around 100 consultants and staff operating from offices in London, Dubai, Riyadh and Singapore.
