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Saudi state-backed property giant Rozn has stonewalled its former CEO after offering to resolve the lawsuit, seeking more than $100 million from the group over allegations of illegal dismissal.
Rosen, one of five “gigaprogents” backed by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund, received a settlement offer of less than $50 million in February from British-born David Grover, according to an email seen by the Financial Times. But more than two months later, people close to Glover say they haven’t responded yet.
The conflict with Glover, who has more than 40 years of experience in the UK construction industry, has worked on projects such as the Shard, but has stifled its ability to attract and retain top executives for projects related to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.
Saudi observers consider the claim to be a test case for legal reform in the Kingdom, seeking to improve transparency and treatment of foreigners, but the massive amounts involved have attracted attention. There is concern in the kingdom that it is blocking other international leaders from taking on roles.
Vision 2030 aims to modernize the kingdom and its economy. However, many of the ambitious projects face major obstacles due to Roshun’s goal of building a new home for 2.2 million people, even the flagship giant Neom. Two of the five Gigaprojects currently have a CEO of “Acting.”
Roshn’s acting chief executive Khalid Johar has also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Act for the past five months since Grover left the company a year ago.
Center David Glover claims in the lawsuit that he owes $120 million in salary and other awards to cover the entire term of his contract with Roshun. ©Tasneem Alsultan/Bloomberg
Critics say despite billions of dollars in support from the PIF Sovereign Wealth Fund, the project is struggling to overcome structural issues in the Kingdom, including the lack of legal protections for staff contracts.
Prince Mohammed is the de facto ruler of the kingdom and also chairs Roshun and other Gigaprogents.
Roshn and Pif did not respond to requests for comment.
Glover’s claim is expected to be heard in Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Labour Court after being rejected by two lower courts. The trial date has been delayed several times and is still announced.
Glover, who spent most of his career at Mace in the UK, claims in the lawsuit that his salary and other awards are owed $120 million to cover the entire duration of his contract with Roshn, who joined after being headhunted by PIF in 2020.
Prince Mohammed has set an ambitious goal of quickly building at least 400,000 new homes and associated amenities.
Glover was fired in April 2024, but what he claimed in court was a very successful record of seeing Roshun transform the Kingdom’s largest property developer, the building’s entertainment district, hospitals, schools and mosques as part of his home’s target.
Rocheun claims that Glover was fired for renting an apartment owned in the southern France to an employee of a company attending an industrial conference.
People close to Glover claim that Rochen’s HR team is well informed and supported plans to use French property, which helped corporate executives attend the meeting at their final moments. They say any business was conducted on an arm length basis.
The company has contested in court that Glover had declared full ownership of French property and defended something that British executives denied, or took steps to hide his interest.
People close to Glover suggested that when he and the company were trying to raise the transparency of the company, they believe that the apartment issues will fire him to dismiss him when he and the company met their performance goals.
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Last month, Roshn appointed one of its executives, Sultan Alhunaiiti, as head of human resources, according to a company-wide email seen by the FT.
Johar, acting chief executive of Roshn, said Alhunaiti will remain in the role of HR “until further notice.”
The email didn’t mention anything about the status of former HR director Nasreen Aldossary and did not appreciate her work in the role.
Aldossary did not respond to requests for comment.
