John Stevens - CEO Chestertons MENA, and Trustee to the Chestertons International Foundation
The Chestertons Foundation is pleased to welcome John Stevens to its Board of Trustees. John has spent close to thirty years in real estate across the Middle East and the Far East, and he joins the Board to take a more direct part in the belief our Founder and Chairman, Salah Mussa, set out when he established the Foundation in 2019: that Chestertons should give back. In our conversation, John talks about support that leaves communities stronger over the long term, not just for one day. He also explains why he wants colleagues in every office to feel the Foundation belongs to them, and what meaningful impact looks like in practice: understanding what a community actually needs, working with partners who know the ground, and staying involved long after the headline has passed. Q & A below ⬇️
By Chestertons International Foundation
We sat down with John to discuss his vision for the Foundation, his commitment to long-term impact, and how he plans to engage colleagues across the Chestertons network.
What inspired you to join the Chestertons International Foundation as a Trustee?
I've spent close to thirty years working in real estate across the Middle East and the Far East. Throughout that time, I've seen how much the communities we work in shape our business and our people. When our Founder and Chairman, Salah Mussa, established the Foundation in 2019, he set out a clear belief that Chestertons should give back. That belief matches my own. Becoming a Trustee lets me play a more direct part in it, beyond my day job.
What kind of change would you like to see the Foundation help create?
I'd like the Foundation's support to leave communities stronger over the long term, not just meet a need for one day. I also want our own people to feel that the Foundation belongs to them. When colleagues in every office see it as something they can take part in, the good it does grows naturally, and it becomes part of who we are as a firm.
What do you hope to bring to the Foundation through your experience and perspective?
I'll bring a practical, operational outlook and a good understanding of governance. I also bring a broad regional view. I've worked across the Gulf and in emerging markets such as Vietnam and Myanmar, where I saw first-hand how much well-directed support can change things. I hope that experience helps the Foundation choose where to focus, build good partnerships and make sure its initiatives are well run and built to last.
What does meaningful impact mean to you when it comes to supporting communities and charitable initiatives?
For me, meaningful impact is lasting and it can be measured. It means understanding what a community actually needs, working with partners who know the ground well, and staying involved over time instead of stepping in once. The initiatives that matter most are the ones that are still making a difference long after the headline has passed.
Please join us in giving John a warm welcome to the Board of Trustees. We look forward to working alongside him as the Foundation continues to support communities across the Middle East and beyond.