Biography
Todd is a Managing Director of Gensler's Middle East practice, bringing more than 35 years of architectural, design, and business leadership across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with a portfolio of complex mixed-use, retail, hospitality, and entertainment destinations.
Todd combines business strategy with design leadership to guide Gensler's Middle East operations and strategic direction, overseeing major developments for clients across the UAE and the wider region. Previously based in Shanghai, he spent more than a decade directing mixed-use retail centers, hospitality destinations, and entertainment venues across Greater China and Southeast Asia, including projects in Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Macau. He is recognized for leading diverse regional teams, driving design excellence, and cultivating lasting client relationships across two of the world's most dynamic regions.
The design process is a distinct, personalized journey shaped through years of experimentation and practical experience. My architectural evolution is a manifestation of artistic exploration, tied to the essence of place, responsive to external forces, and attuned to its influence on people in our dynamic built environment.
In the News
Qualifications and Recognition
Master of Architecture, University of California Los Angeles
Bachelor of Architecture, University of New Mexico
Registered Architect: California
LEED Accreditation BD+C
Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Member, USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council
Construction Week Power 150 List 2026 - #7 Ranked among the Middle East's top 150 architectural industry leaders, Construction Week
Master Designer of the Year International Design Dialogue, Guangzhou Design Week, 2023
Panelist, Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit, Abu Dhabi, 2026
Speaker, “The Age of Magnetism: Retail Experience Transformation,” at MECSR GVS Online, 2026
Jury member, MECSR Shopping Centre and Retailer MENA Awards, 2026
Panelist, “The Next Wave: Retail, Dining and Destinations Reshaping the Mall,” at Retail Congress MENA, Dubai, 2026
Jury member, FritsJurgens Pivot Door Sketch Contest, 2026
Keynote, Guangzhou Design Week, Guangzhou, 2023
Founder, AIA Design Excellence Awards program, China
Past member, Events Committee, Rotary Club of Shanghai, Rotary International