S A M E R G. Y O U N I S

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR • MANAGING DIRECTOR • EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Strengths: Strategic Growth ~ Executive Leadership ~ Change Management

Over twenty five years of experience in managing and developing commercial, industrial, petroleum and chemical facilities construction, operations and maintenance businesses in the Middle East and Africa. Expertise in establishing strategic partnerships with major international companies. Secured through forward planning and pro-active approach regional eminence in large scale BOT / Private Finance Initiative projects. Skilled in building organizations and objective focused teams, fostering confidence and trust through clear and consistent direction.

Special interest in reading and lifelong learning with a particular focus on leadership skills, best business practices, psychology, human relations, and emerging advanced technologies. Strong community involvement supporting higher education and active involvement in youth training programs. Enjoys delivering in-house leadership seminars.

EDUCATION

B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering.,Texas A&M - 1982

Emphasis: Mechanical Engineering

B.Sc. Electrical Engineering.,Texas A&M - 1982

Emphasis: Electrical Engineering

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Established clear, visible and fit for purpose policies and procedures to drive efficiency and appropriate corporate checks and balances.
  • Foresaw business opportunities and strategically invested in significant assets and resources, successfully positioning the organization to become the regional leader in its field in BOT’s.
  • Since appointment as Deputy Managing Director, pro-actively developed the core business, with resultant growth in annual turnover, with a cumulative forty fold increase to become the leading utilities developer and contractor in Kuwait with a current workforce in excess of 25,000.
  • Planned and executed focused expansion with subsidiaries in the United Arab Emirates, and as Managing Director and Board Member, has led these to rank among the top three contractors in that country, with other subsidiaries operating successfully throughout the Middle East.
  • Directed horizontal expansion through creation of profit center divisions supporting the core business, acquisition of high growth potential niche companies, strategic alliances with renowned expert companies, and joint ventures with successful and influential partners in diverse locations.
  • Built on core competencies and evolved the original MEP contractor business into a full-fledged and leading Infrastructure Project Developer (BOT’s) and Utilities EPC contractor, with remarkable achievements in the BOT / Private Finance Initiative sectors for mega infrastructure / utilities projects in the Gulf region.

CAREER TRACK

Deputy Managing Director – Kharafi National, recognized throughout the Middle East, as a fully-integrated leading infrastructure and utility developer (BOT’s) and as an EPC as well as a traditional contracting company having vast experience in oil and gas facilities, petrochemical plants, industrial and building services, and the management, operation and maintenance of power generation plants, water facilities and sewage treatment plants. Kharafi National is an integral part of the privately held Mohammed Abdul Mohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons Group.

Joined Kharafi National after graduation in 1982 as Project Engineer, and after nine years of focused career accomplishments and successive advancements, was appointed as Deputy Managing Director in 1992. Over the past 15 years, the company has grown from its original core business as a pre-eminent mechanical and electrical contractor in the commercial and industrial sectors in Kuwait, to become a leading BOT/EPC investor and contractor throughout the Middle East and Africa, now also serving the petroleum, chemical, power, infrastructure and utilities, communications and environmental sectors with expertise in facilities management and operations and maintenance, with a current workforce in excess of 25,000.

CORPORATE BENCHMARKS & MILESTONES

1992Establishment of Subsidiaries in UAE

Established Kharafi National Dubai and Kharafi National Abu Dhabi to extend the core business in the Gulf Region, now providing full EPC services to the public and private commercial, industrial and infrastructure sectors.

1997Acquisition of Controlling Interest in Al-Bahar Jacorossi Engineering and Contracting Company

Broadened the corporate profile by adding state-of-the-art fabrication facilities with emphasis in the oil and gas sector.

1999Establishment of Subsidiary in Egypt

Established Egypt National to introduce core business to Egyptian and North African markets, now providing mechanical electrical and instrumentation works in building services, petroleum and chemical, power, water and wastewater sectors, in addition to installation of natural gas networks supplying end users in Egypt.

2000Establishment of Utilities Development Company

Established the first private finance company in Kuwait, for the development of the US $ 2.5 billion Sulaibiya Waste Water Treatment and Reclamation Plant and currently one of the leaders in this field in the region.

2000Establishment of Subsidiaries in Lebanon and Qatar

Established subsidiary companies to develop the construction, operations and maintenance and Facility Management activities in Lebanon and Qatar

2005Establishment of Kuwaiti Jordanian Holding Company

Established Kuwaiti Jordanian Holdings Co. to undertake investment in infrastructure /utility development projects in Jordan with a paid up capital of US $ 150 Million.

2005SSH Consultants

Appointed as Board Member in this long established Kuwaiti consultancy helping to secure works to return the consultancy to its former pre-eminent position.

2006Establishment of Emirates Utilities Company Holding

Partnered with a leading Emirati conglomerate to undertake investment in emerging BOT/BOOT/PTT infrastructure / utility development projects in the UAE. Company successfully awarded two significant projects: Solid Waste Management for 10 years with Mubadalah and Sewage Treatment Plants for 25 years with ADWEA, with a combined development cost of US $ 1.5 Billion.

2006Establishment of Saipem Kharafi National MMO

Partnered with Saipem BV on a 50 – 50 basis to undertake works in the Gulf region in the Oil Sector operations and maintenance.

2007Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Co. (HEISCO)

Appointed as Executive Sponsor and Board Member responsible for the turnaround of HEISCO following its acquisition by the Kharafi Group. (Listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange).