About Us
Management Team
Zak Eipe
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Eipe is an entrepreneur and consultant with 50 years experience in the Middle East, India and Africa, specializing in the planning, development and implementation of oil and gas, fertilizer & petrochemical, natural resources, renewable energy, integrated steel and metallurgical projects. He has held senior level management positions such as Member of the Board, Managing Director, Resident Director and advisor to MNC’s such as Essar Global Limited, JSW, Lurgi GmbH and Salzgitter Stahl AG and sovereign wealth funds and governments.
He holds a degree in Industrial management from Metropolitan in the UK and has received extensive training in Petroleum Marketing Term Contracts and Petroleum Concessions and Acquisitions from BP, London and Project Financing specialization from Barclays Banks/ADNOC London.
Timothy Courtney
Chief Marketing Officer
Mr. Timothy Courtney has over 40 years of experience in the refractory industry, having gained a broad knowledge of all areas of the business. From an initial technical background Timothy has gone on to a number of senior appointments with major refractory companies around the world, specialising in Sales and Corporate management roles.
Starting his career with GR Stein and Hepworth Refractories, Mr. Courtney then continued his global career with Magneco Metrel, Premier Refractories, Vesuvius and latterly Vereeniging Refractories, South Africa.
Sateesh Kamath
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Sateesh Kamath is an extensively experienced Ceramic Engineer, with a B.Tech Hons in Ceramic technology from IIT Varanasi since 1983. With a demonstrated history of working and profitably managing the Refractory and Building materials Industry. He has extensive skills in Ceramic sciences, Business processes, ERP implementations, Business planning, Operations management & marketing management.
An experienced Ceramic Operational professional focused in Ceramic sciences & technologies with over 40 years of all round Industrial experience, spanning 23 years where he held the position of Vice President at ACC Refractories (now Calderys India) followed by 9 years of Experience at HSIL, Hindware as the Senior Vice President. Most recently, he has served as the Chief Operating Officer (UAE) & Chief Technical Officer (Global) at RAK Ceramics for all the divisions for operations in UAE, India and Bangladesh.
He is also a life member of the Indian Ceramic Society & also presently the Vice Chairperson of the First International Chapter, the Dubai Chapter.
Dr. Arup Kumar Chattopadhyay
India Country Head & Executive Director
Dr. Arup Kumar Chattopadhyay has a rich and coveted experience of more than 46 years in leading refractory industries like Dalmia Refractories, ACC- Refractories Division (Now ACE-Calderys Refractories), TRL Krosaki (formerly Tata Refractories Limited) in various business functions & was pioneer in introducing innovative products/services which helped the organizations to achieve phenomenal growth under his stewardship.
He is an M.Tech in Chemical Technology - (Specialization in Ceramic Tech) & completed his Ph.D. (Tech) in ‘Kinetics of Dehydration and Rehydration of Aluminum Silicate Systems’ from Calcutta University in 1970. Dr. Chattopadhyay has been conferred with ‘Distinguished Life Member of Unified International Technical Conference on Refractories (UNITECR)’ for his stupendous contribution in the field of refractories.
Dr. Chattopadhyay has been awarded Best ‘Refractory Technologist’ Award in 1996 from Indian Ceramic Society. He was the chairman of Indian Refractory Maker’s Association from 2006 to 2010, President of Indian Ceramic Society from 2013 to 2014 and President of Indian Institute of Ceramics from 2015 to 2016.
Subir Bose
Head HPI and Application Services
Mr.Bose is a refractory specialist having served 23 years in the refractory Industry. Mr.Bose started his career in 1996 with Calderys (India) and since then has worked with multinational refractory companies such as Hartel (UAE), Cape (Bahrain), Calderys (Indonesia). He is a specialist in refractory design & engineering, material testing and inspection, refractory erection engineering and specialized in customized product development for specific market needs/end users such as Emirates Steel, EMAL, DUBAL, ALBA, Qatar Steel, Hadeed, Sohar Aluminium, Jindal Shadeed and Vale to name a few in the GCC.
He holds various certifications such as API 963, ISO 9000/2000 lead auditor, OHSAS 18001 risk assessment certificate, quality manager, project manager and training and development. He has done his B.Sc In Chemistry, B.Tech in Chemical Engineering and Diploma in Chemical Process Instrumentation. Mr. Bose is a member of the Institute of Refractory Engineers UK, API 936 Task Force Singapore and Indian Ceramic Society India. Mr. Bose has published 8 technical papers relating to the refractory Industry and he is well versed in English, Hindi, French, Indonesian and Japanese.
SHANIL JOSEPH
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Shanil has over 20 years experience in financial and management accounting. He is well versed in accounting for varied industries ranging from project funding and industrial and industrial laboratories to educational institutions and auditing. More than a decade of experience managing finances, developing and implementing procedures and systems as per internationally-accepted financial standards, practices and policies for EPC companies in Qatar. Prior to this, he served with Reliance Energy Ltd. Most recently, he was the finance manager for Glauch System Industries WLL, a 25,000 TPA refractory manufacturing facility in Qatar. Shanil holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Mahatma Ghandi University and is a CA Intermediate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India.
SAMEER CHAUDHARI
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Sameer has over 10 years experience as a strategic planner and operational leader with progressive experience providing solutions to maximize profits while decreasing operational expenses. Extensive cross-functional expertise in purchasing, industry of international trading, supply chain service, logistics, and relationship management.
He has diverse experience in Business Development including establishing World Gastroenterology Institute, a state-of-the art healthcare institute treating digestive disorders in India. He was also responsible for ideating and launching Endoscopy Guru, an online interactive platform for doctors and surgeons around the world to stream live procedures. Previously, he was the project coordinator of an investment company in Doha, Qatar. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies and Masters degree in Commerce from LLIMS, India.
YASSER AL HASANI
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Yasser Al Hasani is a dynamic and creative Chief Administrative Officer with extensive experience of 20 years in delivering cost-effective and high-performance internal and customer-facing solutions in support of business growth. Industry experience includes public relations services, logistics expertise, consulting on government regulations and direct marketing industries. Adept at leading through collaboration, innovative thinking, and execution excellence, Mr.Yasser has thorough knowledge of legislation and policies that affect local government, including familiarity with municipal law, finance and labour relations.