About Us

Reuben is an accomplished entrepreneur and business leader with a proven record of building and scaling companies that redefine quality, innovation, and customer experience. For over two decades, he has served as Chairman and CEO of QP, steering its evolution into a multidisciplinary powerhouse recognised for delivering complex, high-profile projects across architecture, engineering, project management, and cost consultancy.

Throughout his career, Reuben has played a pivotal role in some of the Corinthia Group’s most significant developments, including the creation of Palm City Residences in Tripoli, a landmark luxury gated community; the Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg; the iconic Corinthia London; the reimagining of the Corinthia Brussels (formerly the Astoria); and the transformation of the Corinthia Bucharest (Grand Hotel du Boulevard). He has also been instrumental in raising equity for the Corinthia Group, supporting its continued growth and expansion across global markets.

As Founder of DesignEQ, Reuben channels his vision and passion for excellence into the luxury hospitality sector, shaping iconic destinations that set new benchmarks in design. His leadership is distinguished by an unwavering commitment to precision, integrity, and client success, alongside a dedication to cultivating world-class talent and driving transformative outcomes.

Sophie is the Commercial & Business Development Partner at DesignEQ, bringing over a decade of experience across business development, marketing, events, and client engagement within the design and engineering sectors. Based between London and Dubai, she supports the growth of the business through strategic relationship management, commercial initiatives, and market development.

Her professional journey spans multidisciplinary environments, including leadership roles in bids, marketing, and events management for leading organisations in the UK. Prior to joining DesignEQ, she gained extensive experience coordinating commercial initiatives, managing stakeholder engagement, and supporting high-level project operations within engineering and corporate environments.

Her diverse background enables her to combine commercial insight with a strong understanding of brand positioning, client engagement, and business development, allowing her to navigate complex international projects with confidence and professionalism.

At DesignEQ, Sophie contributes to the firm’s vision of delivering meaningful, design-led experiences through long-term partnerships, strategic collaboration, and a commitment to creating lasting value for clients and stakeholders.

A dynamic and creative leader with global sensibilities who works with eminent clients including His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, His Royal Highness The Emir of Qatar, Her Royal Highness Sheikha Mozah, Qatar Foundation, The Aga Khan, Sheik Ahmed Maktoum, Sheik Saud, Sheik Khaled, Sheik Sultan, Dubai Holding, Emaar, Meraas, Eagle Hills, Baccarat, Cheval Blanc/Louis Vuitton, Royal Mansour, Four Seasons, Six Senses, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt International, Fairmont Raffles, Accor, Ferragamo/Lungarno Collection, Roman Abramovich, and David and Victoria Beckham.

Kevin covers architecture, feasibility, interior design, masterplanning, and landscape design. A masterplanner and designer, Kevin has over 30 years of experience in the planning, design, and management of projects from a wide-ranging portfolio globally, specialising in hotels/resorts, mixed-use urban regeneration, golf and leisure, commercial, and retail. He is responsible for the seminal Heart of Doha project (which has won several design awards), which includes four five-star hotels, Cheval Blanc Dubai, Baccarat Maldives, Corinthia Maldives.

Formerly, Kevin was responsible for some of the practice’s most notable designs, including the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul and Disneyland Paris. He drives a dynamic and creative approach, championing innovations and cutting-edge solutions to create enduring designs that offer measurable real estate returns.

Kevin Underwood is also an accomplished artist working in sculpture, pencil, watercolours, collage, upholstery, and furniture making.

Chin brings over 24 years of extensive international design experience to the hospitality team. His career spans across diverse regions including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, where he has played a key role in shaping high-profile, award-winning developments.

With a keen eye for detail and a passion for placemaking, Chin’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of project types—luxury resorts and spa hotels, private high-end villas, urban masterplans, mixed-use developments, and iconic tall buildings. His work reflects a consistent commitment to contextual sensitivity, cultural relevance, and timeless design, tailored to each unique site and client vision.

Chin’s dedication to design excellence was recognised with the prestigious Brit List Architect of the Year Award in 2024, a testament to his leadership, innovation, and impact within the hospitality and design sectors.

Beyond his project work, Chin is actively involved in shaping the future of the profession. He serves as a guest critic for the BA Interior Architecture programme at Sheffield Hallam University, where he mentors emerging talent and fosters creative thinking. Chin’s collaborative approach, design insight, and international perspective continue to bring lasting value to clients, communities, and design teams around the world.

Ekaterina brings international expertise in interior architecture and hospitality design, grounded in a Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, advanced Hospitality Strategy studies at Cornell University, and over a decade of experience working with leading firms. She began her career at HBA Los Angeles, contributing to five-star hotels and luxury residential projects across Asia and the United States, before advancing to Senior Designer at WATG/Wimberly Interiors. There she was responsible for major developments including the expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida, one of the largest and most profitable properties in the portfolio, the redesign of guestrooms and suites at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills, and the full-scope design of the 600-room Disney Resort in Orlando. Her portfolio from this period also includes a 5,500sqm private residence in Beverly Park, Los Angeles, and high-profile resort work such as the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point.

In 2019, Ekaterina joined QP Malta as Lead Interior Design Architect, where she now directs teams on prestigious hospitality projects for international clients including Corinthia Hotel Group. Her current work includes the full scope of Corinthia Hotel Dubai, guestrooms at Corinthia Palace Hotel Malta, public areas for Corinthia Hotel Budapest, and suites at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria in Brussels. She has also delivered signature design for the Bahia Michelin-star restaurant in Malta which was shortlisted among 800 contestants for HD Awards 2023.

Driven by creativity and strategic insight, Ekaterina specialises in developing interiors that unite financial performance with storytelling, creating spaces that elevate guest experience and bring lasting value to clients.

Alexia trained as an Architect at the University of Malta before completing a Master’s degree in Architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow, where she strengthened her creative approach to design and her understanding of technical precision. She began her career in London with Mark Pinney Associates, immersing herself in the world of luxury retail and gaining invaluable experience in fast-track, high-profile projects. Working at the intersection of design, materials, and construction, she developed an expertise in creating environments that embody the vision and identity of internationally renowned brands.

Her portfolio from this period spans flagship stores for Georg Jensen across every continent, the celebrated Salon de Parfums at Harrods in London, and the ERB shop at the Victoria & Albert Museum, alongside work for global fashion and jewellery houses including Salvatore Ferragamo, Ermenegildo Zegna, Harry Winston, Burberry, and Tiffany & Co. These projects demanded seamless collaboration with consultants, contractors, and clients, refining her ability to manage complex processes while delivering interiors of exceptional quality.

Building on this foundation, Alexia has expanded her expertise into hospitality and luxury residential design, where she continues to apply her creativity, attention to detail, and strategic leadership. Passionate about design excellence, Alexia continues to shape  interiors with creativity, refinement, and a dedication to delivering experiences that resonate on both a functional and emotional level.