Six key people overseeing the development of water and wastewater projects in the GCC: Franck Le Baron, N Suresh Kumar, Kyeong Choi, Fady Juez, Gerard Velter and Thierry Pepe
Franck Le Baron
Position Programme director, Marafeq Qatar – Suez Environnement
Biography Franck Le Baron is Suez Environnement’s programme director for Marafeq Qatar’s multi-utility projects. Based in Doha since July 2009, he looks after a range of projects, including district cooling, water, and wastewater collection and treatment. Le Baron has 20 years of experience in the energy and water infrastructure sectors working for France’s GDF Suez. He previously worked in Dubai from 2002-09 as business development manager of Degremont, a subsidiary of GDF Suez Group. Prior to this, he worked in Paris and Marrakech for Degremont as projects manager for five years. Between 1990 and 2002, Le Baron worked in various positions with the Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group in Azerbaijan, France and the Netherlands. Le Baron graduated with a degree in civil and mechanical engineering from Ecole Speciale des Travaux Publics in Paris in 1990.
Contact Tel: (+974) 4459 8701
N Suresh Kumar
Position Vice-president & head – water technology, Larsen & Toubro
Biography N Suresh Kumar graduated in 1976 with a degree in mechanical engineering from Annamalai University, India and started his career as a trainee engineer with Larsen & Toubro the same year. He later took up his first position as site engineer and was involved in projects for 10 years. Kumar set up Larsen & Toubro’s water department in 1989 and scaled up the company’s water and sewage treatment and distribution capabilities. He established Larsen & Toubro’s water technology division as a standalone unit in 2007. At present, Kumar is working on expanding the company’s presence in advanced water and wastewater treatment market in India and the Middle East. Larsen & Toubro is currently working on the Doha South sewage treatment works for Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The firm secured the QR691.2m ($190m) contract in May.
Contact Tel: (+91) 265 245 3200
Kyeong Choi
Position Managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea), Samsung Engineering
Biography Kyeong Choi has been managing director of Samsung Engineering’s water and infrastructure division for the Emea region since April. Choi was previously business development director for British firm United Utilities in Abu Dhabi. Between 2004-08, he was business development director for Samsung Engineering’s environmental division. Prior to this, he worked for six years at the UK’s Thames Water in project and business development. Samsung Engineering is the preferred bidder on the Muharraq wastewater project in Bahrain. Choi holds a bachelor of engineering degree from the University of Wales in the UK and a master’s degree in engineering hydrology from Imperial College London. He also has a master of business administration from Cranfield School of Management in the UK.
Contact Tel: (+971) 2 6422 902
Fady Juez
Position Managing director, Metito
Biography Fady Juez is the managing director of UAE-based water and wastewater company Metito. He oversees 22 markets across the world for Metito. Having joined the company in 1985, he is one of the firm’s longest serving employees. Metito is currently constructing two new water treatment facilities at Naser and Ghammas in Iraq. Before joining Metito, he worked for the US’ GE Power for four years. Juez graduated from the American University in Lebanon in 1980 as a mechanical engineer. He has been an active member of the Massachusetts-headquartered International Desalination Association (IDA) for 20 years. In April, he was appointed as a member of the IDA environmental taskforce. In this role, he provides input on the environmental impact of desalination on marine systems. IDA is a non-profit association with more than 2,300 members in 60 countries and is affiliated to the UN.
Contact Tel: (+971) 4 810 3333
Gerard Velter
Position General manager, Azaliya
Biography Gerard Velter is the general manager of Azaliya, a joint venture between France’s Veolia Water and Abu Dhabi’s wealth fund Mubadala Development Company. Velter was previously vice-president for international development in the Middle East for Veolia Water from 1997-2004. He oversaw business development and implementation of projects in Lebanon, Egypt, West Bank, Jordan and the UAE. Velter worked for France’s Port Autonome du Havre for 11 years from 1984 to 1995. He started as development managing director before being promoted as manager of port operations and finally deputy general manager. He has also worked for the Transport Ministry in Paris. Velter graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris in 1972 and Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees, also in Paris in 1977. Azaliya is the preferred bidder on the Port of Sohar water utilities project in Oman.
Contact Tel: (+971) 2 642 7550
Thierry Pepe
Position Chief executive officer (CEO), Saur International Contracting Company (SITC)
Biography Thierry Pepe is the CEO of SITC, the Saudi Arabian subsidiary of France’s Saur Group. Pepe joined Saur 25 years ago and spent 15 years as a project manager focusing on information technology (IT) and customer services in Mozambique, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Congo, Vietnam, Russia and the UK. He also worked on a World Bank scheme in five of Zambia’s copperbelt cities as general manager. Pepe spent five years leading the project, which included solid waste management. SITC was awarded the contract to manage the water services in the cities of Mecca and Taif in May. Pepe previously worked as an IT manager and project manager for France’s Bouygues Group, the former owner of Saur. He joined Bouygues Group in 1977. Pepe is a member of Cercle d’Affaires Franco Saoudien de Jeddah – a French-Saudi Arabia partnership.
Contact Tel: (+966) 540 03 5484
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