Global Managing Director of G.A Group, a dedicated design studio specialising in luxury hospitality design for over 35 years. Katayon oversees global P&L across four studios, working closely with senior directors to champion a culture balancing creative excellence with commercial discipline. She has led the transformation of the firm, unifying a previously siloed organisation, strengthening operational and financial foundations, and positioning the business for long-term growth across key markets.

Prior to G.A Group, Katayon held leadership roles at Unispace, where she supported the development and implementation of company-wide strategy during a period of private equity–backed transformation. Her work included evolving the global operating model, integrating new acquisitions, and building the infrastructure needed to scale, spanning HR, finance, and internal communications.

She began her career in real estate advisory and investment banking at firms including Newmark, Eastdil Secured, and Cushman & Wakefield, supporting over $3 billion in commercial transactions, aligning real estate decisions with business and talent goals, and advising developers on strategies that combined market fundamentals with design-led thinking.

Katayon is a strategy and operations leader with a strong commercial track record and a deep appreciation for creativity in all its forms. With over seven years of experience driving global transformation, M&A, and shaping high-performing teams, she is passionate about work where creative ambition meets operational rigour.

Her respect for creative disciplines traces back to her college years at Yale, where she explored architecture, drawing, and film—experiences that continue to shape her instincts as a business leader. Katayon finds fulfilment in creating environments and infrastructure that enable world-class designers to thrive, bringing clarity, alignment, and thoughtful structure that allows artistry to flourish.