Nicholas MacLean

Executive Director & MD of Middle East & Northern Africa, CBRE Group

Search every verified Nicholas MacLean interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Nicholas Maclean, Managing Director for CBRE in the Middle East and Northern Africa, has discussed his leadership philosophy in a 2023 interview. He stated that effective leadership requires "trust, judgment, and affection," and that leaders should combine "aggression in achieving the business objective" with empathy for both their team and clients. Maclean emphasized the importance of listening, noting that he often speaks last in meetings to gather all opinions before making a decision, and that he is prepared to change his mind based on better advice from his team. In earlier appearances, Maclean commented on Dubai's real estate market. In 2020, he described government initiatives such as the creation of a higher committee for real estate as a positive intervention to monitor supply and demand. He noted that while supply remained strong across residential, office, and hospitality sectors, demand was also growing, particularly from international corporates. Maclean also highlighted the importance of networking in the region's transient market, stating that events like business breakfasts help reconnect with clients from other markets.