Key Personnel
John Martin St. Valery
chief executive officer
Having founded Links Group in 2002 John has spearheaded the growth of a Partnership into the corporate structure that now exists. Twelve years living and working in the UAE has given John a unique and unrivalled insight into the commercial activity in this rapidly developing country.
A prior career encompassing senior management roles with Citibank and Kodak was preceded by an eight year period with the Metropolitan Police in London.
John advises many group companies at Board level on a retainer basis – particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship and business development.
Married with two teenage children John and his family are firmly committed to the region.
Stuart Curtis
group managing director
Following his role as Vice President of the Gulf’s Largest Private Developer and 10 years with the world’s foremost document solution provider as General Manager within Developing Markets, Stuart has joined the links group in 2010 to spearhead the UAE’s rapidly growing business.
With 16 years experience – 10 of them in the Middle East, Stuart brings a wealth of experience in Operational Excellence, Business Development and Customer Relationship Management.
Educated to degree level majoring in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Johannesburg with Post Graduate studies in Business and Taxation, Stuart is also a Fellow of the Institute of Administration and Commerce (FIAC).
Julie K Irving
chief operating officer
Following a main board level directorship with a major international airline, Julie relocated to Dubai in 2002 as Managing Director of an airline supply company. After successful completion of the re-engineering of the Middle East operation Julie formed her own consultancy focusing on small to medium business enterprises in the Middle East.
Julie joined Links Group as Chief Operating Officer in 2006 having previously been an independent advisor to the Board for strategy planning.
The operational excellence attributed to the group is a result of Julie’s firm application of Plc standards.
Julie advises a number of group companies at Board level on a retained basis; specialising in strategy review and implementation.