Two generations, one ABL family

We often use the word ‘family’ when describing ABL. This can mean a number of things, such as collegiate, supportive and friendly, but in some instances, it means exactly that – family!

Our Abu Dhabi office recently employed trainee surveyor Mohammed Issa Azeez, who had previously worked with us as an intern. In between these roles Issa had completed his Bachelors in Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering.

Issa’s decision to pursue his career at ABL has some delightful symmetry to it; his father, Azeez Athiyoor Kuniyil, is our Operations Support Officer. But this relationship goes back even further. Azeez senior started his working life as an administrative assistant, delivering documents to clients and other tasks, including making coffee for the future ABL CEO David Wells back in the marine consultancy Noble Denton in 1992.

“It is gratifying that such a longstanding relationship between colleagues that started in 1992 can continue with what is the next generation almost 30 years later,” said Ben Lazenby, Regional Managing Director MENA & India. “I have had the pleasure of working with Azeez for 25 years, and whilst he is rightly proud of his son, I am also delighted that Issa chose ABL to start his career with us, and I am hoping in 30 years we can welcome the third generation of the family into the Group!”