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
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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 fullfledged 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 fullyintegrated 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
1992 Establishment 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.
1997 Acquisition 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.
1999 Establishment 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.
2000 Establishment 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.
2000 Establishment of Subsidiaries in Lebanon and Qatar
Established subsidiary companies to develop the construction, operations and maintenance and Facility Management
activities in Lebanon and Qatar
2005 Establishment 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.
2005 SSH 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.
2006 Establishment 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.
2006 Establishment 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.
2007 Heavy 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).